Branded thief by neighbours, man ends life

The 24-year-old was tied to a tree and tortured for over three hours

A 24-year-old man Naveen immolated himself after three neighbours tortured him alleging that he had stolen Rs. 15,000, the police said on Thursday.

Naveen, who torched himself at his house in Vinayak Nagar in Jeedimetla on Wednesday, succumbed to burns while undergoing treatment at Osmania General Hospital. A case of abetment of suicide was registered against Chandraiah, Murali and Venkat, by the Balanagar police.

The victim used to work in a fabrication factory.

“Three days ago, he went to the house of Ananthaiah, resident of the same colony, to attend his daughter’s cradle ceremony. The next day, the host found Rs. 15,000 stolen from his house,” the Jeedimetla Inspector M. Sudershan said.

Naveen reportedly slept at Ananthaiah’s house as the function continued till late in the night. Ananthaiah’s brother Chandraiah suspected that Naveen stole the money and started questioning him.

Some time later, his friends Murali and Venkat joined him. The trio allegedly tied Naveen to a tree and beat up him black and blue. They tortured him for over three hours, beating with sticks and footwear, the Inspector said.

Eventually, they released him, but threatened him of dire consequences if he failed to return the money. Naveen came to his house and set himself afire after sprinkling kerosene, apparently humiliated over the torture and theft slur, the police said. After battling for life for nearly 18 hours, he died in the early hours of Thursday.