Polytechnic student meets tragic death

Luxettipet: In a tragic incident, 19-year-old polytechnic student Sai Kumar was killed on Monday after he was hit on the chest by the bucket of an earthmover of Gudem lift irrigation work in Dandapalli mandal of Mancherial district. Sai Kumar, son of Ankathi Mallesh and Sathevva, came to his native place for Sankranti holidays. 

Hoping to earn a few bucks during the holidays, Sai Kumar, a final EEE student in Warangal Polytechnic College, went to work of repairing a leaking pipeline of the lift scheme, along with his friends. He fell down when the earthmover was dumping sand bags under the pipeline. His friends and labourers rushed him to Luxettipet hospital, but he died even before the doctors could treat him. 

Luxettipet CI Pratap, Dandepalli SI Sanjeev visited the accident spot. The SI announced that a case will be registered against the poclain operator, following a complaint lodged by Mallesh, the victim’s father. He said the investigation is on. 

But Sai Kumar’s family members and relatives, demanding steps to help his family, didn’t allowed postmortem to be conducted. Tension prevailed near the hospital. The family members took the body to Utkoor crossroads and hundreds of youth blocked the highway along with the body, following which confusion prevailed for some time. 

Mancherial ACP Gouse Baba, along with Luxettipet Rural and Mancherial CIs D Pratap, Sammaiah, Venkateswarlu and Sanjeev, reached the spot and persuaded the agitators to end their protest but in vain. The ACP’s assurance to take steps for providing assistance to the bereaved family fell on deaf ears. 

The agitators raised slogans against the police and jostling took place among the police and agitators. The protestors insisted for an assurance of compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a job to a family member before allowing the body for postmortem. The row continued till 8.30 pm, later the police managed to take away the body for postmortem to the hospital, amid heavy security. 

The family members handed over the body after an assurance of a compensation of Rs 15 lakh and a job. As many as 50 police personnel stayed at the hospital and didn’t allowed anyone to go inside. Curfew-like atmosphere prevailed with the police forcing the shops to down their shutters as a precautionary measure.