A 19-year-old youth who was set afire by his neighbours for beating up their pet dog succumbed at the Gandhi Hospital. Sangareddy police altered the case to murder under Section 302 IPC against the six who allegedly killed their neighbour in a fit of rage. The deceased was identified as G. Mallesham, the son of Rachaiah, a resident of Vijayanagar Colony at Sangareddy in Medak district. Mallesham was a centering mason.
Sangareddy SI Noor Ahmed said the incident took place on March 21. A case of attempt to murder was registered against the six accused identified as Peda Durgaiah, Chinna Durgaiah, Lacchaiah, Narasimhulu and two women Durgamma and Amrita, all residents of the colony. The victim, Mallesham’s brother G. Srinivas said, “My brother came home at around 7.45 pm on March 21 and was washing his feet. Suddenly the dog belonging to Durgaiah came and began drinking water from the bucket. Angered by this, he beat the dog. Peda Durgaiah who saw this informed his relatives. Six of them came and beat Mallesham and abused him for beating their dog. Then they doused him in kerosene brought by the two women and set him afire.”
“It happened in just 15 minutes. As locals gathered they informed the police and an ambulance was called. Mallesham was shifted to the Sanga Reddy government hospital and was later shifted to Gandhi Hospital. He had suffered 98 per cent burns. The accused are yet to be arrested,” sub-inspector Noor Mohammed said. The police said that the accused are absconding.