Five-year-old found dead in gated community after ransom demand; former security guard suspected

A five-year-old girl, who went missing while cycling inside a gated community in Kowkoor on Saturday (October 10), was found dead in a water tank in the cellar of the clubhouse, hours after her family received a ransom demand of ₹20 lakh. The police suspect the involvement of a former security guard, who is absconding.

The deceased, Aurelia, was the daughter of Milton Fernandes Moses, a research scientist residing at Villa Orchids gated community in Kowkoor.

According to the police, the girl routinely cycled to the games zone at the community clubhouse around 6 p.m. and returned home by 7 p.m. However, when she failed to return on Saturday evening, her family began searching for her.

In his complaint to the Bollarum police, Milton stated that he reached home around 7.45 p.m. and found his father visibly distressed after receiving a call from an unknown number. The caller had claimed that the child was in his custody.

Shortly afterwards, Milton received a call from the same number. The caller demanded ₹20 lakh as ransom and instructed the family to come to Secunderabad to collect the child.