A horrific case of domestic violence has shaken Hyderabad, where a young mother was set on fire and killed by her husband in their rented home. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, has left the local community in Tilak Nagar in a state of shock and grief.
A Marriage Marred by Suspicion and Harassment
The victim, Chityala Triveni (26), worked at a hotel, while her husband, K Venkatesh (32), was a daily-wage labourer. According to a police complaint filed by Triveni's father, Chityala Appaiah (48), the couple had relocated from their native Huzur Nagar to Hyderabad five years ago in search of a better life. For the past year, they had been living in Tilak Nagar with their two young children: Naresh (8) and Sathvika (6).
Family members informed the police that Venkatesh had been tormenting his wife for several years, repeatedly accusing her of infidelity. This persistent harassment created a toxic atmosphere in the household, culminating in an unimaginable act of brutality.
The Night of the Brutal Attack
The tragedy unfolded around 12:30 am on Wednesday. A neighbour, M Madhu, who works as a food-delivery executive, was returning home when he saw flames erupting from Venkatesh's house. He immediately raised an alarm, alerting other tenants in the building.
Upon rushing to the room, Madhu found the front door open and a horrifying sight inside: Triveni was completely engulfed in flames. With the help of neighbours, she was rushed to Gandhi Hospital for emergency treatment. However, her injuries were too severe, and she succumbed to the burns at around 4 am, as confirmed by Nallakunta inspector K Maruti Prasad.
Chilling Testimony from the Couple's Son
The most heart-wrenching details emerged from the couple's young son during the police investigation. Naresh told the investigators that his father woke him up, showed him a bottle of petrol, and took him outside. Venkatesh then gave the boy a samosa and uttered a chilling prophecy: "your mother will die today."
Acting on this sinister plan, Venkatesh doused his wife in petrol and set her ablaze. Their daughter, Sathvika, who was sleeping on a mattress nearby, was jolted awake by her mother's screams and the sight of her father fleeing. The terrified girl managed to run out of the house unharmed.
Legal Action and Aftermath
Based on the complaint from Triveni's father, the Nallakunta police registered a case under Section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Venkatesh. After a search, the accused was arrested from the Nallakunta area on Thursday night.
The victim's body was handed over to her relatives after a post-mortem examination on Thursday. The police are preparing to produce Venkatesh before a court on Friday to seek his remand for further investigation. This tragic incident underscores the deadly consequences of domestic abuse and the urgent need for community vigilance and support systems to protect vulnerable individuals.
