TIRUPATI: An unidentified group of individuals attacked and set fire to teenager Sheikh Altaf (19) at Drivers Colony in Basinikonda Panchayat of Madanapalle mandal, Annamayya district, on Monday.
The victim, son of Sheikh Mastan, was studying Arabic at Palamaner Madrasa in Chittoor district. A love affair is suspected to be the reason for the assault.
The incident occurred in the morning when Altaf was on his way to Palamaner Madrasa via bus. He was followed by three masked men riding a two-wheeler. They caught hold of him at the Punganur bus stand. The assailants forced him to accompany them to an area near a juice factory, where they subjected him to verbal abuse. Thereafter, the gang allegedly doused Altaf with petrol and set him on fire.
Upon hearing the boy’s cries, nearby residents rushed to his aid. They extinguished the flames and took him to the Madanapalle government hospital. Deputy SP Kesappa, along with cops, arrived at the hospital to gather information from the victim. A case of attempted murder has been registered.
The motive for the attack remained shrouded in mystery. A connection between the attack and Altaf's alleged interactions with an 11-year-old girl hailing from the Basinikonda Panchayat area is suspected.
The attack might have been orchestrated by the relatives of the young girl, police suspect.
