TELANGANA: WOMAN TAHSILDAR BURNT ALIVE IN OFFICE

HYDERABAD: In a gruesome incident, a woman tahsildar in Telangana was allegedly burnt alive by a man in her office at nearby Abdullapurmet in broad daylight on Monday over some land dispute, Police and Revenue officials said.

Tahsildar Vijaya Reddy, in her mid 30s, died on the spot and two other staffan attendant and a driver, in the office were injured trying to rescue her, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said adding the assailant also suffered burns in the daring attack that sent shock waves.

The man collapsed after running for some distance from the office in a bid to escape and he had been taken into custody and hospitalised in a serious condition.

The shocking incident triggered protests by Revenue department employees across Telangana while political leaders condemned it. The incident happened at around 1.30 pm when K Suresh, a local who came to the office in a bike, poured petrol on her and set her afire using a lighter.

According to the preliminary information, he had some

land dispute and approached the tahsildar over the matter, the commissioner said without elaborating. Some time after he entered the tahsildar's chamber, there were cries following which Vijaya's attender and driver rushed. "...but she came out and collapsed outside her chamber engulfed in flames. The driver and attendertried to extinguish the fire in vain and she died on the spot, Bhagwat said. The attender and the driver also suffered serious burns in the process and had been admitted to a hospital.

The commissioner told reporters that this was first time that such an incident occurred in a government office in in the state capital, adding investigation would be carried out into all aspects. "The man is in our custody. He has suffered 50-60 per cent burns," he added.

The commissioner said police would ensure speedy investigation and the case will be tried in a fast track court and the accused gets the capital punishment as this was a murder and attempt to murder case. Suresh told police he is a farmer and also into real estate and co-owned 7 acre agriculture land along with his brother. The land was transferred to a tenant and a dispute has arisen over it and a litigation was in the HC.