Date:20/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/20/stories/2004122014530500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Man held on charge of killing daughter

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 19. In a gruesome incident, a 35-year-old man, allegedly killed his daughter and attacked his son at Ambothu Tanda on the outskirts of Loyapally village in Manchala, some 50 km from here, on Sunday.

According to the police, the accused, Ambothu Partiya, left home along with his children -- Akhila (4) and Ramesh (6) - at around 8.30 a.m.

Strange behaviour

He told his family members that he was taking Akhila to hospital as she had developed a boil on her head. But as he had been behaving strangely in the last few days, Partiya's brother, Shanker, and their mother, Valya, followed him.

While returning from hospital, Partiya saw a few toddy-tappers sitting on the roadside. Suddenly he snatched a sickle from one of them and hit Ramesh on his neck. Partiya's brother rushed Ramesh to a nearby hospital, leaving behind Akhila.

Instant death

Partiya then allegedly dragged Akhila to a temple nearby, forced her to lie down and slit her throat. She died instantly.

Locals caught hold of Partiya, tied him to a tree and informed the police, who took him into custody.

"For the last few days, he had been talking about the danger to his life from some anti-social elements due to rivalry over some financial matter. This had upset his wife, Sakri, who left for her parents' place yesterday," a police official said. The couple had three children.

Partiya told the police that after killing Akhila, he intended to return home and consume poison.

No pay

"I suffered losses and my employer refused to pay. When I demanded that I be paid for the work, he began threatening me and even hired goons to eliminate me. I even took a loan from a financier," he told the police. "I thought they would become orphans if I was killed. So, I decided to do away with them first and subsequently kill myself."

The Manchal police registered cases against him under Sections 302 IPC (murder) and 307 IPC (attempt to murder). The condition of Ramesh was said to be serious.