An inebriated man burnt alive his eight-year-old physically challenged daughter in front of their residence after a quarrel with wife on Saturday evening. The incident was reported at Banduru village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district.
Malavalli DySP Hanumanth Reddy, who visited the spot, said Prakash (40) first set dry waste accumulated in front of their house on fire by pouring kerosene and then threw his daughter Nirmala into the flames and watched her burn to death in an act of revenge against his wife Manjula.
“We have taken the accused into custody and recorded the statements of the girl’s mother Manjula and eyewitnesses”, the officer said.
Social activist Nagaraju, from neighboring Dugganahalli village, claimed that he heard the girl's screams and rushed there, but it was too late. “We were holding a peace meeting in our village Duganahalli, which 2 km from Banduru. I and sub-inspector Santhosh rushed to the spot and saw Nirmala already dead and her body all burnt. Prakash was standing beside the fire and watching. It was terrible”, he said.
Banduru villagers said Prakash was a drunkard and fought with his wife Manjula and beat her up regularly. Even on Saturday, Prakash had an argument with Manjula and threatened to kill her after she retaliated and asked him to mend his ways. According to neighbours, Manjula ran away taking her youngest five-year-old daughter and Prakash burnt Nirmala alive in an act of revenge.
Prakash married Manjula 10 years back and they had two daughters. He was working in a garment unit in Bengaluru and left the job three months ago and returned to Banduru village.