B Tech student set afire by 'lover'
Nalgonda/Vijayawada: In a gruesome act, a married man has allegedly set afire a final year B Tech student for spurning his advances. In a similar incident that speaks of the police apathy to towards victims of stalking and harassment, a minor girl committed self-immolation.
While the first incident happened in Nalgonda, the second occurred in Vijayawada.
In the Nalgonda incident, a final year B Tech student, Talari Aruna, was allegedly set on fire by a private financier Nakarikanti Saidulu (32), after dousing her with kerosene at Prakasam Bazaar.
A father of two, Saidulu, belonging to Darvesipuram, enticed Aruna hailing from Kurrampalli in Kanagal mandal in the name of love. They were seen moving together by villagers. However, since he is already a married person and cannot snap ties with his wife, he apparently decided to get rid of her who was reportedly pestering him to marry her.
He called her over to his office and set her on fire around 2 pm and fled the scene. Alerted by her screaming, neighbouring shop keepers informed police and rushed her to the government hospital.
She has suffered 75 per cent burns. Additional SP Ramarajeswari said Aruna was being shifted to Hyderabad. SP Prabhakar Rao said special teams were formed to nab Saidulu. Activists of the CPM, CPI, BJP , ABVP and SFI staged protests against the incident before the hospital.
In Vijayawada, a minor girl (17) set herself on fire, unable to cope with harassment by an auto driver. On Tuesday afternoon, the girl studying intermediate in a corporate college in Bhavanipuram poured kerosene over herself and committed self-immolation at her house.
Her cries for help attracted the neighbours who put the fire off and rushed her to the government hospital. She suffered 75 per cent burns and after initial treatment, she was moved to a private hospital.
According to Governorpet CI K Mahender, the girl was harassed by an auto driver Y Nagendra (20) at Challaplli Bungalow on December 4. Police had been looking for him, he said.
However, her parents contended that the police did not act on her complaint. They also refuted the police version that the auto driver was absconding, claiming that he was very much in the area.
They, along with Left leaders, protested in front of the station, alleging police negligence. Their delay in registering a complaint led to the girl's suicide bid, they deplored.
City CPM secretary Ch Babu Rao criticised police for their 'irresponsible' behaviour in responding to her complaint. He demanded immediate arrest of the auto driver and action against police.
ACP Raghava Rao promised action against police and justice to the victim.
News Posted: 18 December, 2013
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