Hyderabad: Youth succumbs to burn injuries

Hyderabad: Mahankali Srinivas, the 26-year-old Dalit youth, who attempted suicide in Karimnagar by self-immolation for not getting a promised land from the state government, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. He was undergoing treatment at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad with 50 per cent burn injuries. However, another victim, Yalala Parasuramulu, 26, has recovered completely and will be discharged on Monday.

Srinivas attempted self immolation on September 3 after Manakonduru MLA Rasamayi Balakishan allegedly misbehaved with him.  The MLA, however, denied the allegations. Mahankali set himself on fire in front of the MLA’s office.  It is alleged that the victims had been pleading with the legislator to allocate three acres of land as promised by the government during the elections. Alleging that the authorities had provided the land to illegal beneficiaries, they used to visit the legislator to plead for the land.

Koppula Eswar, government chief whip, Tula Uma, Karimnagar Zilla Parishad chairperson, and Ravinder Singh, Karimnagar municipal chairman, had told the media that 650 acres have been handed over to the Dalits. In Gudem, 48 eligible Dalits have been identified by the government under the land scheme.