A day after a woman tehsildar was allegedly burnt alive in her office near Hyderabad, her driver, who had tried to rescue her, succumbed to injuries on Tuesday, 5 November, police said.
Tehsildar Vijaya Reddy, 37, died on the spot after she was allegedly set ablaze at her office in Abdullapurmet by K Suresh over a land dispute.
Two staff, including Vijaya’s driver Gurunatham, who came to her rescue were seriously injured too in the incident even as the assailant, who received 60 percent burns, were all admitted to different hospitals in the city.
The incident happened at around 1.30 pm on Monday. A local person by name Suresh poured petrol on her and set here ablaze. As per the preliminary information, he had some land dispute, the official said without elaborating.
Police Probe Underway
The Commissioner said a scientific investigation was underway and they were probing from all angles to ascertain the exact reason that provoked Suresh to take the extreme step of setting the tehsildar on fire.
Police were holding inquiry with Suresh's family members, checking his call records and verifying the land documents.
The land was transferred to a tenant and a dispute had arisen over it.
Condemning the brutal killing of the tehsildar, Telangana Director General of Police M Mahendar Reddy vowed tobring the culprit to book.
The matter will be tried in a fast track court as this was a murder and attempt to murder case, the Commissioner said.
Meanwhile, a large number of Revenue and other government department employees visited the deceased Tehsildar's house to pay their last respects.
What Happened?
Vijaya was alone in her chamber when the assailant entered it, doused her in petrol and set her afire, Ibrahimpatnam Revenue Divisional Officer Amarender said. According to an eye-witness, a loud sound was heard following which some staff rushed to the Tahsildars chamber and saw her running out engulfed in flames.
“We heard a loud sound from Madam’s chamber and ran towards it and saw madam in flames. We tried to save her,” the eye-witness said.
The incident led to chaos in the Tehsildar office, thronged by public, and scores of shocked revenue employees later staged a protest seeking justice while the body of the Tehsildar was being taken to hospital for post-mortem.
Telangana Education Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy and senior police officials reached the spot.
Condemning the incident, the minister said the motive for the attack was yet to be ascertained as the assailant was also injured and currently undergoing treatment in a hospital.
“If there is any grievance people should approach appropriate authorities. Officials also work for the welfare of the people only. They (people) should not resort to heinous acts. This is not the correct way,” Sabita Reddy said.
Congress MP from Bhongir constituency Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who also visited the office after the incident, alleged discrepancies in land passbooks were being witnessed in the state.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)