Fourteen-year-old Vempati Praveen Kumar, who suffered burns in Mother Teresa Orphanage Home, at Kambhampadu in A. Kondur mandal in Krishna district on January 26, succumbed to burns at the Government General Hospital (GGH) here on Wednesday. Praveen, a native of Marepalli village, was studying eighth standard in a local government school. In his dying declaration, the boy reportedly said that he immolated himself by dousing with petrol. Later, he alleged that the hostel warden Katuru Venkateswara Rao set him on fire saying he was causing disturbance at the home.
The boy suffered 70% burns and was battling for life for the last 10 days. Doctors declared him dead on Wednesday following damage to his vital organs.
Nuzvid Deputy Superintendent of Police V. Srinivas said initially A. Kondur police registered a burns case and altered it to Section 307 of IPC (attempt to murder).
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“The mandal magistrate concerned conducted panchanama on the body and handed it over to the family members. Police altered the case under Section 302 of IPC (murder) and the case has been referred to legal opinion as the victim gave two versions in the dying declaration,” the DSP said.
Home closed
District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) of Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department Ch. Vijay Kumar said about 18 boys and girls were staying in Mother Teresa Home and they would be shifted to the nearby homes, as the private home had no permission.
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“The WD&CW officials will produce the inmates before the Child Welfare Committee and shift them to the government-run homes being run by Social Welfare Department, Rajia Vidya Mission, SC Welfare and other hostels. We ensure that the studies of other inmates are not affected,” Mr. Vijay Kumar said. Police recorded the statements of the home inmates, warden and the villagers in the case. The home was closed soon after the incident.