In a deeply disturbing incident, a 16-year-old student met a horrific end when he was set on fire after being doused with petrol by a man who had been harassing his sister. The tragic incident took place in Razole village, located in Bapatla district. The victim, identified as U Amarnath, was a Class 10 student attending a High School in Uppalavaripalem. The shocking event unfolded as he was on his way to attend tuition classes.
According to the police, the accused, Venkateswara Reddy, followed Amarnath along with a group of friends. Upon reaching Reddy Palem village, the 20-year-old assailant and his companions attacked the victim, forcibly dragging him to a nearby field. It is alleged that they proceeded to pour petrol on him, setting him ablaze before fleeing the scene, leaving behind a traumatised community in their wake.
The victim’s mother, Madhavi, filed a complaint revealing that Venkateswara had been harassing her elder daughter. She stated that her daughter had confided in her about the harassment, fearing that it might lead her to drop out of school. In an attempt to protect his sister, Amarnath confronted Venkateswara, warning him to stay away from her. This confrontation seemingly escalated an existing grudge, as Venkateswara had previously assaulted Amarnath a few months prior. The family had reported the earlier incident to the authorities, but tragically, the situation only intensified. Madhavi holds Venkateswara accountable for her son’s untimely death, believing that the harassment and subsequent attack were a direct result of his growing animosity towards Amarnath.
Passers-by who heard Amarnath’s desperate pleas for help rushed to the scene, extinguishing the flames and transporting him to the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Guntur for immediate medical attention. Sadly, despite the efforts to save him, the young victim succumbed to his injuries.
This heart-wrenching incident has prompted widespread outrage and demands for justice. A case has been registered, and authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to account for their heinous act. The community mourns the loss of a promising young life and hopes that this tragedy serves as a catalyst for raising awareness about the importance of addressing stalking, ensuring the safety of individuals, and preventing such devastating incidents from recurring in the future.
