Six suffer burns as man sets wife's parental home on fire

Hyderabad: After failing to persuade his wife to return to his house, a man in Telangana set afire her parental home, leaving six people with burns. Three of the injured are in a critical condition, said the police.

Accused Laxmirajam of Siddipet district married Rajeswari nearly a decade ago, but difference cropped up between the two after the man began drinking heavily. Fed up of physical and mental harassment, Rajeswari and her children recently moved to her parents' home at Khammampally village.

According to the police, Laxmirajam had been trying to coax his wife to come back, but in vain. On Thursday night, he got drunk and landed at his in-laws' place with a can of paint thinner, an inflammable substance, they said.

The accused emptied the can through a window and set the house on fire. It was also alleged that he had locked the main door to prevent the family from escaping. Alerted by screams, neighbours rushed to Rajeswari's home and rescued the family.

Six people, including the family of Rajeswari's brother, suffered burns and were taken to the nearby government hospital. The victims have been identified as Rajeswari, Raju, Vimala, Pavitra, Sunita and Chintu. While three of them required first aid, the other three are serious and are being treated at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad.