Moneylenders obstruct funeral over unpaid dues

Karimnagar: Private moneylenders at Metpally in Jagtial district prevented a family from undertaking the funeral and last rites of a deceased person over unpaid dues, with villagers comparing the incident to a movie scene from ‘Aa Nalaguru’.

Sources said that Pulluri Srikanth, a resident of Chaitanyanagar Colony in Metpally used to run a private finance and chit business. After facing severe losses, Srikanth is alleged to have fled the town along with his wife and children, leaving behind his aged parents.

The moneylenders searched for Srikanth and also exerted pressure on Srikanth’s parents to find his address, but their efforts were in vain.

Two years ago, Srikanth’s mother died and when he visited the town, moneylenders obstructed him from performing the last rites and only relented after he promised to pay them back along with interest within two months. However, he went missing again.

On Sunday, Srikanth’s father died of ill health, following which he visited the town. Moneylenders were waiting for him at his parent’s residence, threatening to obstruct the last rites and seeking immediate repayment.

Some elderly persons and relatives intervened, convincing them that Srikanth would pay them by selling his property in Hyderabad, which was then given in writing on bond paper, following which they left.