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Andhra Pradesh
Woman, grandson set on fire
Correspondent
| Group rivalry in Sringvruksham |
Dulla Rathnam (42) and her grandson Veerababu (9) were fast asleep
A group of four persons responsible for the gruesome murder
KAKINADA: In what is stated to be the result of political rivalry between village groups, a woman member of the village panchayat –Dulla Rathnam (42) and her grandson Veerababu (9), were set ablaze while they were fast asleep in their house in the wee hours of Saturday.
It is stated that a group of four persons used chloroform on them before dousing them with petrol and setting them on fire in the faction-ridden Sringvruksham village of Thondangi Mandal of Tuni Assembly constituency.
Both the woman and the boy were charred to death.
Achayamma (45), sister of Rathnam, who was sleeping in the adjoining bed, raised an alarm following which the miscreants fled under the cover of darkness.
Severe burns
By the time the neighbours came rushing, Rathnam was dead while the boy, who was in a critical condition, succumbed to burns before he could be given medical attention.
Achayamma, who also sustained severe burns, has been admitted to the Government general hospital where her conditiqon is described as precarious.
It is stated that Rathnam had incurred the wrath of a rival group when she successfully contested the panchayat election with the support of Telugu Desam. Ever since, there were minor incidents between both the groups.
Superintendent of Police Srinivasulu rushed to the village and conducted a preliminary inquiry.
As a precautionary measure, police pickets were posted in the village.
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