Youth sets 17-year-old girl ablaze in Nandyal district

In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across Andhra Pradesh, a youth set a 17-year-old girl on fire after pouring petrol on her in Nandikotkur town, Nandyal district, in the early hours of Monday. The victim, identified as Lahari, succumbed to the burns on the spot, while the accused, Raghavendra, was apprehended and is undergoing treatment for severe burn injuries.

According to reports, the accused, allegedly irked by the victim's refusal to reciprocate his advances, barged into her room past midnight and committed the gruesome act. Lahari, an intermediate second-year student, was asleep in her grandparents' house when the tragedy unfolded. Hearing commotion, neighbours rushed to the scene, only to find the girl engulfed in flames.

They attempted to help but were too late to save her. In a fit of anger, they thrashed the accused, who also sustained burn injuries during the incident. Locals revealed that Lahari had been sent to her grandparents' house in Nandikotkur from Samarlakota to escape the harassment of Raghavendra, who had been stalking her.

Despite this precaution, Raghavendra tracked her down, leading to the tragic culmination. Nandyal SP Adiraj Singh Rana inspected the crime scene and revealed that the accused and the victim were known to each other, having previously studied together in Veldurthi mandal. “We are investigating if the boy attempted self-immolation or sustained injuries during the act of setting the victim on fire,” the SP stated.

Lahari’s body has been shifted to Kurnool Hospital for postmortem, while Raghavendra is being treated at Nandyal Hospital. This horrifying crime has reignited concerns over the safety of women in the State. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, addressing the rise in crimes against women, underscored the urgent need for establishing special courts for the swift trial of such cases.

Referring to a recent gang-rape case in Sri Sathya Sai district, the Chief Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to seeking the High Court’s intervention for the constitution of special courts to ensure swift justice.