Man burns son, wife for dowry
He first poured petrol on his mother-in-law K. Venkatamma, at her home and set her alight
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-07-19 06:50 GMT
Vijayawada: A man who was demanding more dowry set his eight-month-old son and wife ablaze in Bangaraiah Kottu Street, Chittinagar, on Saturday morning. Police said that Akula Rajendra Prasad, a medical representative, first poured petrol on his mother-in-law K. Venkatamma, at her home and set her alight.
She suffered 55 per cent burns and is undergoing treatment in the hospital. She had refused to give him family property. According to Two-Town police, Prasad, a native of Yerabalem in Guntur district, had married A. Roja of Chittinagar two years ago. He was given '5 lakh and 50 per cent share of Ms Roja’s house as dowry.
Ms Roja came to her mother’s home in Chittinagar for delivery last year, and delivered a son. Prasad refused to take her home and demanded that the entire house be given to him. On Saturday morning, Prasad came over with two litres of petrol in packs and and set Venkatamma, Roja and his son Vidya Sagar on fire.
The infant and his mother suffered more than 70 per cent burns and died in the hospital. Venkatamma is still in the hospital Prasad, who also received burns, escaped from the spot.
He is said to be having an affair with another woman and had been harassing Ms Roja for more dowry. Police said that they had both quarreled over this issue on Friday.