In an incident of alleged revenge, a man from Warangal district in Telangana killed his father and the latter’s paramour after he set their house on fire.
The police said that the accused, identified as 20-year-old Karthik, was also injured in the accident and suffered 20% burns. He is presently undergoing treatment at Warangal’s Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital.
The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Mamidi Kumara Swamy, his lover 35-year-old Sumalatha (35) and his mother 67-year-old Rajamma (67) and the incident took place at Kantathmakur village in Damera mandal.
Locals alleged that Kumara Swamy’s son, from his first wife, poured petrol and set fire to his father’s house past midnight, as his father had been living with his partner after differences with his first wife.
Speaking to TNM, DCP (East Zone) Venkateswaralu said, “Kumara Swamy and Sumalatha were in a relationship for many years and Karthik stayed with his mother in Hanamakonda. Kumara Swamy would shuffle between the two houses and Karthik had repeatedly been asking his father to change his ways, but to no avail.”
“Late on Sunday night, Karthik brought 4 to 5 litres of petrol in a can and threw it on all of them. He also opened the gas cylinder and let it leak. He then came out and threw a matchstick at the house. The victims may have been able to run out as soon as they caught fire, but because the LPG cylinder exploded, they were charred to death on the spot,” he added.
Kumara Swamy’s father who was present near the house at the time also suffered injuries. The police have stated that they suspect the personal grudge to be the reason behind the incident.
“A case has been registered under Section 302 (Murder) and 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC with the Damera Police Station and we have also booked him under the relevant sections for setting the house on fire,” the DCP said.
The accused is yet to be arrested as he has been admitted to the hospital. The police said that they would soon take him into custody and investigate the incident.
Local legislator Challa Dharma Reddy also visited the village and provided financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for the last rites of the deceased. He urged the police to conduct a thorough probe into the incident.
IANS inputs