ONGOLE: M Ravi Teja, a 12-year-old Class VII student belonging to Ardhaveedu of Prakasam district, who was admitted to Guntur Government Hospital on July 7 after being set ablaze by a 15-year-old boy, died on Friday while undergoing treatment.
In his statement to the police, Ravi Teja said he was set ablaze by a first year Intermediate student of Government Junior College on the same school premises, for refusing to hand over a letter to a girl studying in Class X of his school. He told the police that he had refused to give the letter and tore it. Nursing a grudge over this, the teenager attacked him while he was in the classroom and set him ablaze.
On Friday, after being informed about the death of Ravi Teja, the Ardhaveedu police altered the case registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC to Section 302 (Murder) of IPC. The accused was arrested on July 7 itself and sent to Juvenile Home.
Ravi Teja is survived by his parents -- M Venkatalakshmi and Sekhar and two younger siblings.
Ardhaveedu SI M Ravindra Reddy said the body of the boy would be handed over to the parents on Saturday after post-mortem examination.
With the news of Ravi Teja’s death spreading fast, a pall of gloom has descended on his village Anka Bhupalem, The boy was not only good at studies but also in extracurricular activities. He bagged the first prize in Swachh Bharat programmes.