Elderly couple set on fire over property row

VIJAYAWADA: In a macabre incident, an elderly couple were doused in kerosene and set on fire by an unidentified man and woman on the Ibrahimpatnam Ferry Road on Tuesday.

The victims, G. Hanumantha Rao and his wife Ramadevi, were saved by their neighbours, who heard their screams and rushed them to a private hospital. The assailants managed to flee the scene on a motorcycle.

Ibrahimpatnam inspector Ch. Rambabu said that a search is on for the suspects. He said that property disputes may be the reason behind the attack.

A neighbour said that a man and a woman reached Hanumantha Rao’s house on a motorcycle at around 1.30 pm. They went inside and a few minutes later rushed out, and then sped away on a motorcycle.

After hearing the screams of the elderly couple, the neighbours rushed inside and found them ablaze. They put out the fire and rushed the couple to a private hospital in Gollapudi and from there to Manipal Hospital in Tadepalli.

Mr Hanumantha Rao married Ramadevi after the death of his first wife four years ago. He divided his property and gave one half each to his two sons, who reside nearby. However, property disputes are said to be continuing between the old man and his family members.