A lady Tahasildar was burnt alive by a man in her office chambers during lunch hour on Monday. She died on the spot, while the assailant, Tahasildar's driver and a visitor who tried to save the officer received injuries. The incident occurred at Abdullapurmet Tahasildar office in Rangareddy district, on Hyderabad outskirts. The assailant later identified as Kura Suresh Mudiraj of Gourelli village of Hayatnagar block ran out of the officer’s chambers in flames and surrendered to the police.
The assailant is said to have entered the chamber of Tahasildar, Vijaya Reddy (35) saying he has work with her. Within minutes after Suresh went in he locked the door from inside and poured petrol and torched her. Hearing her cries her driver tried to break the doors. Tahasildar Vijaya Reddy ran out of the chambers in flames, screaming for help. However, she collapsed as the fire engulfed her.
Her driver and a person present there made unsuccessful attempts to rescue her. She collapsed outside the chambers. The assailant was also admitted in the hospital. Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagawat, Deputy Commissioner Sanpreet Singh visited the scene of the offence.
“The assailant is said to have been upset over the mutation of seven acres of land under survey numbers 92 and 93 in Bacharam. The attacker was also badly burnt with 60% of burn injuries. He acted alone. At present, the suspect is in our custody and we are investigating the case. A case under Section 302 (murder) and 307 (murder attempt) is registered and the case will be tried in a fast track court, and we will see that the accused is given capital punishment,” Mahesh Bhagavat said. Revenue Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, condemning the incident, said the government would take steps to prevent such incidents in future.
District revenue officers association expressed shock over the tragedy and revenue staff in the district have quit duties and organized protests demanding protection and stern action on the culprit. Vijaya Reddy was serving as Abdullapurmet Tahasildar since it was declared a block two years ago. Vijayareddy is a native of Nakirekal of Totapalli block in Nalgonda district. She is now a resident of Green hills colony of Dilsukhnagar and a mother of two. Her husband Subhash Reddy is a government college lecturer in Hayatnagar. Her father C Lingareddy was a retired teacher in Kondaram, Nalgonda.
She is known as an efficient officer in revenue circles as she worked as Mandal (Block) Revenue Officer in the erstwhile combined Ranga Reddy district for four years. However few visitors at her office complain that she has taken a few controversial decisions in recent days upsetting many landowners.
Meanwhile, the family members of the accused in Gourelli village told reporters that Suresh is a loner and never ventured out much. His mother Padma says that they have no land issues and was not sure why he has taken such a drastic step. His paternal uncle Durgaiah also said that Suresh is not mentally stable and was upset over the delay in the land mutation issue.
