Petitioner Attempts Suicide at Warangal Collectorate

WARANGAL: A petitioner attempted suicide by pouring petrol on himself during the Prajavani grievance redressal programme at the Warangal Collectorate on Monday, reportedly distressed over the delay in resolving his problem.

The petitioner, Gatla Surender, son of Mankaiah, from Ponakal village in Duggondi mandal, submitted a petition during the programme and later took the extreme step. Officials immediately intervened and brought the situation under control. The incident reportedly stemmed from a land dispute between two brothers.

Following the incident, District Collector Dr Satya Sharada spoke to Surender, enquired about his problem and recorded his statement.

Case pending in court

Surender had submitted a petition during Prajavani on July 6 seeking a solution to his problem. The Collector conducted an enquiry at the district Collectorate on August 22. However, Surender’s younger brother, Gatla Raju, attended the enquiry.

During the enquiry, officials found that a related case, numbered 199/224, was pending before the Narsampet Civil Judge Court. The Collector informed the petitioner that further action would be taken after the court delivered its judgment. The same information was conveyed to him through an endorsement on September 30.

Despite this, Surender, reportedly upset that the matter remained unresolved despite several visits to officials, poured petrol on himself during Monday’s Prajavani programme.

‘I acted in haste’

After the incident, Surender expressed regret and said that he had acted in haste. He reportedly submitted a written statement to the district authorities, assuring them that he would not repeat such an act and seeking forgiveness.

Collector appeals for restraint

Responding to the incident, Collector Dr Satya Sharada said, “Every problem has a solution. No one should take hasty decisions under any circumstances.”

As the matter was currently before the court, she appealed to Surender to remain patient until the judgment was delivered. She also urged people to approach the government machinery for resolving their grievances and not take decisions that could endanger their lives due to distress or anger.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KOTHA RAMESH

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