A 37-year-old software engineer was burnt alive at Mallial in Telangana’s Jagtial district allegedly by his close relatives. They allegedly suspected him of indulging in black magic to kill his brother-in-law. The incident took place on Monday night in the outskirts of Balvanthapur in Mallial mandal, minutes away from the famous Kondagattu Hanuman temple. The victim was identified as Racharla Pavan Kumar who hails from Alwal in Hyderabad.

According to reports in regional media, Pavan Kumar came to Balvanthapur for a condolence visit after his brother-in-law Jagan passed away from illness recently. Jagan's wife and another family member were at a shelter constructed near a temple when Pavan visited. It was then that he was attacked allegedly by his relatives. According to Pavan’s wife, petrol was poured on him and he was set on fire.

Police said that Pavan and the family of his wife's brother Jagan had not been on good terms for the last few months and had a tiff over something earlier. Jagan's wife Sumalatha alleged that Pavan had hatched a plan to kill her husband and executed it using black magic.

Speaking to the media, Pavan's wife Krishnaveni alleged that Sumalatha killed her husband. She alleged, "She kept accusing my husband and me everyday of killing my brother. My husband came here even though I asked him not to go as they were angry at him. As he went to garland my brother's photo, my brother's wife poured petrol on him and set him ablaze."

Based on a complaint lodged by the victim's wife, the police have registered a case of murder. Local inspectors said that they found the deceased's body in a completely burnt state inside a locked room, while stating that they suspect the role of more than one person in the offence. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and other senior officials visited the scene to oversee the investigation into the death.

Speaking to TNM, a policeofficer said that the case is being investigated from all possible angles.