Bapatla: Teenager charred to death, three held; victim’s family says accused stalked daughter

Bapatla: Police have arrested three men after a 15-year-old boy was charred to death at Cherukupalli village in Bapatla district on Friday.

The accused are identified as Pamu Venkateswar Reddy (20), the prime accused, along with three other persons- Pamu Gopi Reddy (25), Mandela Veera Babu (20) and Tumma Sambi Reddy. The fourth accused, Sambi Reddy, is on the run.

The victim was identified as U Amaranath, a class X student at High School in Upalavaripalem. The incident occurred when the class 10 student had gone to attend tuition classes on his bicycle.

"The incident took place on Friday, June 16 at 5.30 am. The accused and three of his accomplices were said to be waiting for the victim since 4 am, They thrashed him, poured petrol on the person and set him ablaze," Bapatla Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal said.

Some passers-by found the boy in flames. He was screaming for help inside the maize field. Locals doused the flames and took him to Guntur Government Hospital. However, he died en route.

In the statement given by the boy before his death, a group of three persons stopped his bicycle, took him into the fields, and hit him. They then poured petrol on him and set him afire. The teen died before he could give a proper statement.

The boy was found dead in a remote place where there was no CCTV surveillance. "According to the complaint lodged by the boy’s mother, the accused and his friends have been harassing her daughter. My son was killed for raising objections," said Repalle DSP Murali Krishna.

Police said the motive behind the murder was the boy's opposition to Venkateswara Reddy's harassment of his sister. Police said the accused sexually harassed her under the guise of love.

On learning about the affair, the victim informed everyone and also complained to Venkateswara Reddy's mother that her son was harassing his sister.

Venkateswara Reddy's mother allegedly threatened to make suicide attempt over the issue. It is also said that two months ago, the parents of the victim warned the accused against harassing their daughter.

Angered over the developments in the issue, Venkateswara Reddy developed a grudge against the boy and burnt him alive.

A case has been registered at Cherukupalli police station. Police have invoked the Pocso Act against the suspects apart from section 302 (murder) and 354 (D) (stalking) of IPC.

Inputs from PTI