A devastating dispute between a couple led to a heartbreaking tragedy in Mancherial district, where a 28-year-old mother tied her young daughter to herself and jumped into an agricultural well.
A profound tragedy struck Lingapur village in the Dandepalle mandal of Mancherial district on Sunday, August 30, when a persistent marital dispute escalated into a devastating double fatality. Driven by momentary despair following a heated argument with her husband, a 28-year-old woman tied her six-year-old daughter to her waist and jumped into an open agricultural well situated on the outskirts of the village. The loss of both mother and child has sent shockwaves throughout the local community and left relatives overwhelmed by grief.
According to details gathered from family members and local residents, the deceased woman has been identified as Merugu Rajitha (28), and her daughter as Akshitha (6). Rajitha was married seven years ago to Merugu Anjanna, a resident of Enugumatla village in the Gollapalli mandal of Jagtial district. Together, the couple had two young children: six-year-old Akshitha and an 18-month-old infant son.
Years of Marital Discord and Separation
While Anjanna earned a living as an auto-rickshaw driver in Jagtial district, the couple's home life was reportedly marred by frequent domestic altercations. The recurring conflicts eventually led to a prolonged separation, with Rajitha returning to her natal home in Lingapur approximately four years ago. She had been living there with her parents, raising her two children away from the marital home.
Despite the physical separation, Anjanna periodically visited Lingapur to see his wife and children. However, these visits often failed to resolve the ongoing friction between the couple, frequently leading to renewed disagreements during his stays at his in-laws' residence.
Escalation and the Fatal Decision
The situation took a tragic turn on the morning of Sunday, August 30. Anjanna arrived at his in-laws' home in Lingapur, where another intense argument erupted between him and Rajitha. Distressed and deeply upset by the continuous confrontation, Rajitha left the house later that afternoon, taking her six-year-old daughter along with her.
She walked to an agricultural well situated on the outskirts of Lingapur village. In an act born of immense emotional turmoil, she used a cloth to bind young Akshitha firmly to her waist before leaping into the deep water of the farm well, ensuring that neither could survive.
Discovery of the Bodies and Flight of the Husband
The tragedy came to light later in the evening when Rajitha’s mother returned home after finishing her daily agricultural labor in the fields. Upon entering the house, she found her son-in-law, Anjanna, sitting alone without the children or his wife. When she questioned him regarding Rajitha's whereabouts, Anjanna reportedly offered no explanation, abruptly stood up, and fled the premises.
Concerned by his sudden departure and her daughter's absence, Rajitha's mother began searching the immediate area. Shortly thereafter, local villagers alerted the family that two bodies had been spotted floating on the surface of an agricultural well on the edge of the village. The grieving mother rushed to the spot, only to face the agonizing reality that the floating bodies were indeed those of her daughter Rajitha and her young granddaughter Akshitha.
Police Intervention and Ongoing Investigation
Following the discovery, local residents immediately contacted the police department. Sub-Inspector Gündeti Rajavardhan of the Dandepalle police station arrived at the scene along with an investigative team to inspect the area.
With the assistance of local workers, the police retrieved the bodies of both Rajitha and Akshitha from the well. The remains were subsequently dispatched to a local government hospital for formal post-mortem examinations.
Speaking to members of the press regarding the incident, Sub-Inspector Rajavardhan confirmed that police have officially registered a case based on formal complaints submitted by the deceased woman’s family members. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to the act, while efforts are underway to locate Anjanna and question him regarding the events that transpired prior to the tragic deaths.
Similar environmental and human crises across regions remind communities of fragile circumstances, much like recent events where