Vijayawada: Warden accused of burning boy

VIJAYAWADA: The parents of a 14-year-old boy has alleged that he was set on fire by the warden of an orphanage at Kambampadu in A. Konduru mandal. The incident occurred on January 26, but came to light on Monday. The teenager, Vempati Praveen, is battling for life with 70 per cent burns. There are conflicting versions of the incident. Warden Katuri Venkateswar Rao has denied that he had anything to do with it and claimed the boy set himself on fire. But the boy's parents said the warden was trying to escape.

The police has registered a case of attempted suicide based on the initial statement given by Praveen to a magistrate at the hospital. The Mother Theresa Orphanage is run by Venkateswar Rao. Praveen was not an orphan but lived in the home along with 21 other children, including 12 girls. His parents, Ramarao and Danamma are labourers and could not afford to educate their son. Praveen is studying in Class VIII in the government school at Kambampadu. On Monday, Praveen said the warden poured petrol on him and set him on fire after accusing him of stealing his cellphone and not obeying him.

On January 26, warden Venkateswar Rao complained to Praveen’s grandmother that Praveen was not listening to him. The grandmother also scolded Praveen. After she left, Venkateswar Rao allegedly beat Praveen with a stick, poured petrol on him and set him on fire. Hearing Praveen shouting for help, the other children rushed to his aid and put off the fire. He was taken to a local doctor who gave him an injection and he was then moved to A. Konduru where doctors were not available. After a 108 call, he was shifted to Mylavaram and finally shifted to GGH. Aaduri Maneeth, a Class VIII student who stays at the home, said that Venkateswar Rao used to scold the children frequently. He said Venkateswar Rao had beaten Praveen two days earlier too.

The warden is trying to manipulate the incident, allege Praveen’s parents. They said the police refused to take their complaint as the warden had already complained. A police official from A. Konduru said, “We have filed the case according to the statement of Praveen recorded at GGH before the magistrate. He said in the statement that he set himself on fire as he was insulted by his grandmother.”  The statements of the other children were also recorded in the presence of the tahsildar and they said that the warden was with them at the time of the incident."