Septuagenarian’s death at Vemulaghat being politicised

Thutukuri Malla Reddy reportedly made a pyre for himself in his own house, which they had vacated a month ago, and set himself on fire after dousing himself with kerosene in the early hours of Friday

Siddipet: The suicide by a 75-year-old person in Vemulaghat village on Friday is being given a political tweak, with the reason for the septuagenarian taking the extreme step being projected as depression on account of being displaced from his native village following impending submergence of his house under Mallanna Sagar Project.

Thutukuri Malla Reddy reportedly made a pyre for himself in his own house, which they had vacated a month ago, and set himself on fire after dousing himself with kerosene in the early hours of Friday. He was reduced to ashes within a few minutes.

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According to sources, Malla Reddy was dejected since there were differences in the family over sharing of compensation which besides the cash component, also involved a 2BHK house and land. The sources said that his two daughters had probably demanded a share in the compensation and properties, leading to Malla Reddy getting into a state of depression.

Both the BJP and Congress, however, playing on political opportunism, sought to project inadequate compensation and depression at being uprooted from native land as the reasons for Malla Reddy taking his life.

By Malla Reddy’s grandson Tirupathi Reddy’s own account, they had received all the eligible compensation including allotment of a double bedroom house at R&R Colony at Mutrajpally. Malla Reddy had lost 2 acres 14 guntas under the project for which the government had paid Rs 6 lakh per acre apart from house allotment.

Since Malla Reddy’s grandson was also eligible for a house, one of them was given Rs 5.04 lakh compensation after they decided to give up one allotment since they wanted to live in the same house. Subsequently, Malla Reddy, eligible for another Rs 7.5 lakhs, was paid the amount, the Revenue Divisional Officer said.

In a video released by Tirupathi Reddy, he said he and his grandfather had shifted to Rehabilitation and Resettlement Colony at Mutrajpally near Gajwel a month ago. Tirupathi Reddy said his Malla Reddy was staying with his daughter at Pidched village for the past fortnight. On Wednesday, Malla Reddy left his daughter’s house saying he was going to Mutrajpally R&R Colony. He, however, went to Vemulaghat, which had been vacated and the houses were being demolished. Malla Reddy committed suicide in his house.

Meanwhile, Dubbak MLA Raghunandan Rao claimed that Malla Reddy ended his life as he could not forget his association with the village. Demanding that the officials pay all the compensation without the involvement of politicians and middlemen, the MLA urged them to pay the best compensation to each and every eligible person.

Congress leader Cheruku Srinivas Reddy alleged that the government decision to evict the villagers from Vemulaghat pushed Malla Reddy into depression.