Telangana: Pregnant woman set on fire by kin, loses twins

HYDERABAD: A 22-year-old pregnant woman from Kamareddy is battling for her life after she was set on fire by her mother-in-law on July 17. Keerthana, who suffered 50 per cent burns, lost her twins as she had to undergo an abortion.
Police booked her mother-in-law Ambavva and her husband Pandari under attempt to murder charges and also lodged a domestic harassment case.Ambavva was arrested from her Achampet village, while Pandari, who is with Keerthana in a Hyderabad hospital, is yet to be arrested.

Police said Ambavva often quarrelled with her daughter-in-law, who refused to work in the family's agriculture field. To avoid trouble, Pandari along with Keerthana shifted to Hyderabad in search of work six months ago.
On July 16 night, Pandari and Keerthana went to Achampet in Nizamsagar mandal to make amends with Ambavva. However, at around 8 am on July 17, Ambavva doused Keerthana with petrol when she was in the kitchen and set her ablaze.
Hearing her screams, family members and neighbours rushed to the spot and doused the flames. Keerthana was rushed to a hospital in Nizamabad where she underwent an abortion due to the burns. "Keerthana suffered 50 per cent burns. As her condition is critical, family members took her to Hyderabad for better treatment on July 20. She remains critical," Nizamsagar sub-inspector N Raju said.
Three months ago, Keerthana became pregnant and the couple visited their native place a week ago. Ambavva had a heated argument with Keerthana and the couple returned to Hyderabad immediately.
Keerthana fell in love with Pandari, a car driver, and married him in May last year. They belong to the same caste. Except for Ambavva, other family members had no problem with the marriage. After the marriage, Ambavva and Keerthana did not get along well, police said. Ambavva was sent to judicial remand after police produced her before a magistrate.