Telangana hotelier, who set himself ablaze in police station, succumbs to injuries

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) A hotel owner who allegedly attempted suicide by pouring petrol on himself and setting himself ablaze at a police station in Telangana's Nizamabad district succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Tuesday.

Polasa Sudhakar (60), who had suffered about 90 per cent burns on Monday, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital on Tuesday morning.

Sudhakar, who ran a small hotel at Nizamabad's Bheemgal Bus Stand, allegedly poured petrol over himself inside the police station premises and set himself on fire.

Police personnel reportedly rushed to extinguish the flames and shifted him for medical treatment.

Sudhakar's family members have alleged that repeated police action and harassment over the hotel issue drove him to take the extreme step. They demanded that senior police officials investigate the circumstances and take action if any wrongdoing is established.

Following the incident, family members and relatives gathered outside the Bheemgal police station and staged a protest, demanding justice for Sudhakar.

A petty case was registered against the hotel, allegedly operating late at night, and tables being placed outside the establishment after 10 p.m. Sudhakar reportedly claimed that police had questioned him several times and imposed fines on him on three occasions.

He allegedly told police that he was earning his livelihood through the small hotel and questioned why action was being taken against him while other establishments were also operating late.

A fresh case was registered in connection with the issue, and Sudhakar was asked to come to the police station, sign the proceedings and appear before the court to pay the fine. Allegedly unable to bear the harassment, Sudhakar set himself ablaze in the police station premises.

Nizamabad Police Commissioner P. Sai Chaitanya denied the allegations that Sudhakar died due to harassment by the police. He stated that the police were not at fault.

According to police, the owner of a grocery shop located opposite Sudhakar’s tea stall was allegedly unhappy that he was not buying cigarettes from the shop. The shop owner allegedly sent two men to threaten Sudhakar.

Meanwhile, traders in Bheemgal were observing a shutdown on Tuesday, demanding action against those responsible for Sudhakar’s self-immolation.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad after he was preparing to leave for Nizamabad to console the family of Sudhakar. He blamed the police harassment for Sudhakar’s suicide.

Source: IANS