Upset over alleged failure to clear debts, a photo studio owner committed suicide by setting himself ablaze in his car on Bachupally-Pragathinagar Road on Friday afternoon.
R. Ankam Rao, 38, of Venkatraonagar Colony in Kukatpally, stopped his car on the roadside and set himself afire after dousing with petrol that he brought along. On seeing the car in flames, passers-by stopped a water tanker that was passing through and extinguished the flames. They then found him charred to death inside the car, said Dundigal Inspector V. Bhaskar.
With the help of documents recovered in the car, the police identified him. The Inspector said Rao might have taken the drastic step due to mounting pressure to clear debts. He was supposed to meet his relatives on Friday evening to discuss the measures he took to repay the amount.
He left the house in the morning saying that he was going to meet some persons to sell his Alto car and by afternoon his family members came to know that he ended his life.
Rao’s family hailing from Gudivada came to the city 10 years ago and was staying at Venkatraonagar Colony in Kukatpally. His wife is working in a city-based software company, the police said.
