Army jawan, suspected of burning a boy alive in Hyderabad, shoots himself

Hyderabad: An army jawan, who was being questioned by the Hyderabad police on the burning of an 11-year-old boy in a high security military area at Mehdipatnam last month, shot himself on Monday morning.

Appalaraju, Lance Naik, shot himself with his service rifle at around 4 am, a senior police officer attached to Special Branch of Hyderabad city police said.

A defence spokesperson said, "Appala Raju was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. No suicide note was found." Humayan Nagar Police and Army officials are further investigating the matter.

An 11-year-old boy, Syed Mustafa, had died of burn injuries last month after he was apparently set on fire in a high security military area at Mehdipatnam.

The boy was found burnt after being doused with kerosene in the military area. Before dying, the boy told a magistrate that some "military men" burnt him.

The boy's parents also alleged that some army personnel were involved in the matter but the Army denied the allegations.

A case of attempt to murder was registered in connection with the incident against unknown persons.

Police sources said that the Special Investigation Team, who is probing the case, had questioned several army officers including Appalaraju. However, police is yet to confirm the name of the accused.

Sources said that Appalaraju was one the two army personnel that were suspected by the SIT to be involved in the incident.