The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : One dead as villagers throw stones at `fleeing thieves'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

One dead as villagers throw stones at `fleeing thieves'

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 10. A 30-year-old woman, Anjamma, who was allegedly fleeing in an auto-rickshaw along with three of her accomplices after lifting three goats at Yacharam on city fringes, died after a stone pelted by chasing villagers hit her on Friday.

While one of the gang members, Ramulu, managed to escape, two others, Mallesh and Padmamma, were taken into custody after they surrendered before the Ibrahimpatnam police following the hour-long chase.

All the four were residents of Sooraram in Jeedimetla and belong to Kummara community, the Ibrahimpatnam ACP, Obul Reddy, said. They drove to Yacharam in an auto-rickshaw this afternoon. On reaching crop fields, they caught hold of three goats and allegedly dumped them in the three-wheeler. Some villagers noticed them and raised an alarm. Six locals began to chase the auto-rickshaw on three scooters.

Despite repeated warning from the villagers to halt the vehicle, the suspected thieves paid no heed. The chase continued for about 3 km.

Finally, the locals overtook the three-wheeler and began to throw stones at them. Anjamma sustained bleeding injuries on head and chest when a couple of rocks hit her.

Sensing that situation was going out of hands, Ramulu jumped out of the vehicle and ran away even as one of the scooterists followed him. Mallesh, along with the two women, drove straight to the Ibrahimpatnam police station and surrendered.

Case against villagers

A criminal case under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC was registered against the villagers by the Ibrahimpatnam police. "Locals of Yacharam did not intend to kill the suspected thieves. In fact, they complained earlier that some 40 to 50 goats had been stolen in the last few months," the ACP said.

On receipt of a complaint from the villagers, the Yacharam police booked a theft case against the three accused.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh