Tea Stall Owner Dies After Setting Himself Ablaze at Police Station in Nizamabad District

A 55-year-old tea stall owner, Polasa Sudhakar, died while undergoing treatment after allegedly setting himself on fire at the premises of Bheemgal Police Station in Nizamabad district, triggering protests and political demands for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Sudhakar, who ran a small tea stall near the Bheemgal bus stand, entered the police station on Monday morning carrying petrol and a matchbox and allegedly set himself ablaze. Police personnel and others present at the station extinguished the flames and shifted him to hospital. He was initially taken to Armoor Government Hospital and later moved to a private hospital in Nizamabad, where he died on Tuesday after suffering burns reportedly covering more than 50 per cent of his body.

The circumstances behind the incident remain disputed. Sudhakar’s family and local residents alleged police harassment over the operation of his tea stall. They claimed he had been repeatedly questioned and fined for allegedly running the establishment beyond permitted hours and placing tables outside after 10 pm. The family said he had already been fined three times and felt he was being singled out.

Police, however, denied that their actions led to the incident. Nizamabad Police Commissioner P Sai Chaitanya said there was no fault on the part of the police. According to the police version, Sudhakar was upset over alleged threats from two persons reportedly sent by a grocery-shop owner after Sudhakar stopped purchasing cigarettes and other items from his shop. Police also said a petty case had been registered against him over the late-night operation of his tea stall and that he had been directed to pay the prescribed fine in court.

Sudhakar’s death triggered tension in Bheemgal, with family members, residents and political activists demanding justice. Traders observed a shutdown on Tuesday, while police increased security around the town, major junctions and the police station to prevent any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, BRS leader and Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy demanded a comprehensive probe and alleged that harassment by Bheemgal SI Tirupati contributed to the incident. He sought ₹25 lakh ex-gratia, a government job for one family member and immediate financial and legal assistance. He also demanded action against the SI and said he would continue the fight for justice through democratic means.