A person who sustained burns in a mob fury for allegedly killing a boy in alleged practice of witchcraft continued to remain critical at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here on Thursday.
The person, Thirumala Rao, was referred to the RIMS with 75 per cent burns from the Kandukur Government Hospital after a mob tried to immolate him on Wednesday. “We are doing our best for his recovery,” RIMS burn injury specialist K.C.T.Naik said.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the S.C.Colony of Pokuru village, near Voletivaripalem as friends and relatives of the boy gathered for the funeral. Prakasam Collector Sujatha Sharma visited the village and consoled the boy’s mother who wept inconsolably. The Collector promised to write to the government to extend financial assistance to the family.
It was their responsibility to complain to the revenue or police officials when they came across such superstitious practices by their neighbours, she told the villagers, who insisted that the accused should not be allowed to return to their village.
Awareness programmes would be organised across the district to develop scientific temper among the people, the Collector said.
Accompanied by Kandukur Circle Inspector M. Lakshman Voletivaripalem Tehsildar Elizebeth Rani, the Collector handed over Rs. 10,000 to the bereaved family for the funeral.
The accused was referred to RIMS with 75 p.c. burns after a mob tried to immolate him
