An 11-year-old boy who was found burnt under mysterious circumstances in a defence area here, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday as the police filed a murder case against unknown army personnel and intensified the probe into the case, which triggered tension.
Shaikh Mustafa, a resident of Siddiqui Nagar, located adjacent to the military area at Mehdipatnam — who was found by locals with 90% burn injuries on Wednesday — breathed his last at a private hospital at 8.15 am, police said.
In his dying declaration recorded before a judicial magistrate, the boy reportedly alleged that “two Army men set him ablaze”, they said.
The army, which on Wednesday said none of its personnel were involved in the incident, Thursday condoled the death of the minor and said it was cooperating in the inquiry.
V Satyanarayana, deputy commissioner of police (west zone), said, “We have now registered a case of murder following the death of the boy against unknown armymen.”
The police were still looking for clues. “Actual reasons (for the incident) are still not known. We are in the process of procuring a copy of the dying declaration,” said ACP (Asifnagar division) D Srinivas.
The death sparked tension for some time in Mehdipatnam for a second consecutive day, prompting authorities to deploy anti-riot RAF along with the city police to maintain peace.
{{/usCountry}}The death sparked tension for some time in Mehdipatnam for a second consecutive day, prompting authorities to deploy anti-riot RAF along with the city police to maintain peace.
{{/usCountry}}No untoward incident has been reported and the situation is peaceful, Satyanarayana said.