Officials drive man to suicide for plot of land

Distressed that bureaucrats were not giving him his piece of land despite a court order, an elderly man attempted suicide in the presence of the collector here on Monday by popping sleeping pills. He was rushed to a hospital where he is recovering.

Trouble started for Mr B. Kishan, 66, of Old Bowenpally, 14 years ago after he purchased a 400-sq yards plot beside Sai San-tosh apartments, Survey No 57/2 near Tirmulgherry.

The land was registered in his name but Cantonment officials claimed ownership of the land. The government too joined in, saying the land was allotted to AP Cooperative Society.

Mr Kishan moved the High Court and received orders in his favour. But every official he met shooed him away.

Mr Kishan has five daughters, only two of whom are married. He had bought the land for Rs 12 lakh to sell it off to pay for his daughters’ marriage.

When contacted, the RDO, Chittam Lakshmi Reddy said, “He is showing the sale deed of the land with Survey No 57/2 whereas the land shown is under survey No. 57/1,” the RDO added.