Two arrested for setting house on fire, killing four people in East Godavari

Rajahmundry: The Rajahmundry urban police arrested two persons on 20 February for killing four persons by setting their house on fire on 21 January midnight at Dulla village in Kadiyam mandal, East Godavari district. Superintendent of police Shemushi Bajpai said the two have been identified as Masada Srinu and his brother-in-law Marlapudi Mohan. The deceased have been identified as Kotni Satyavathi (50), her son Kotni Ramu (16), her daughter Ganta Durga Bhavani (30), and granddaughter Ganta Vijaya Lakshmi (5).

The police said Ramu and Vijayalakshmi died on the spot whereas Satyavati and Vijaya Lakshmi succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Two more persons, Ganta Durga Mahesh and Ganta Yesu Kumar, survived with injuries. "Our investigation has revealed that Satyanvati had promised her nephew Masada Srinu that she would give her second daughter in marriage to him. She had also taken Rs. 1 lakh from Srinu for the marriage," said the officer. However, she canceled the marriage plans citing Srinu's vices. Upset with the decision Srinu attacked Satyavathi with a knife on 17 January but she escaped with injuries.

Srinu hatched another plan to kill her. He, along with his brother-in-law Marlapudi Mohan, purchased petrol, put it in plastic bottles, and went to Satyavati's house on 21 January. They doused the house with petrol while the four were asleep and set it on fire before fleeing the spot. Neighbours heard their cries and came to their rescue. However, Kotni Ramu and Ganta Vijaya Lakshmi died on the spot whereas Kotni Satyavati and her daughter Durga Bhavani succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The police arrested the duo at Ravikamatam area in Vizag district.