NIZAMABAD: A nine-day battle for life ended on Saturday night for Excise constable Gajula Sowmya (23), who succumbed to grievous injuries at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. She was laid to rest with state honours at her native Mosra village on Sunday evening.
Sowmya was critically injured on January 23 while conducting a raid to apprehend a ganja gang at Madhavanagar, under the Nizamabad Rural police station limits. She was first treated at a private hospital before being shifted to NIMS. Doctors said she had suffered multiple internal injuries, including damage to the kidneys, liver and ribs, and efforts to save her proved unsuccessful.
Her final journey began from her home in Mosra, where friends, relatives, department staff and villagers gathered to bid a tearful farewell. Emotions ran high as mourners recalled her dedication and courage.
Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, Government Advisor P Sudharshan Reddy, Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Nizamabad Commissioner of Police P Sai Chaitanya, Bodhan sub-collector Vikas Mahtho and Mosra sarpanch Bhupal Reddy were among those who attended the funeral.
Earlier, the body was taken to Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad, for postmortem before being brought back to the village.
Rs 1 crore ex gratia announced
The excise minister said the government would provide Rs 1 crore as ex gratia to Sowmya’s family, along with a monthly salary, pension benefits and a government job for her brother. He said the government would ensure strict punishment for the accused, noting that some suspects had already been arrested and others would be apprehended soon. He also said steps would be taken to equip the department with weapons to curb excise-related crimes.
Officials, employee association leaders and representatives paid tributes at Gandhi Hospital, urging the government to strengthen the department. Excise employees pledged to donate one day’s salary to support the bereaved family.
Expressing deep sorrow, villagers urged the government to fulfil its assurances while ensuring exemplary punishment for those responsible. Sowmya’s family faces financial hardship, with her father earning a living by selling spices at a weekly market. Despite modest means, he had built a small 2BHK house over the past two years. Grief-stricken, he was left struggling to find words as the village mourned the loss of one of its own.