Children obstruct 80-year-old mother's funeral over property dispute in Suryapet

SURYAPET: In an inhuman incident, the funeral of an 80-year-old woman was obstructed by her children in Suryapet district, Telangana.

V. Venkatareddy and Lakshmamma (80) of Kandulavari Gudem, Nereducharla Mandal, had two sons and three daughters. Their younger son had passed away earlier, and her husband, Venkatareddy, had died a few years ago. For the past five years, Lakshmamma had been living with her youngest daughter in Nereducharla.

Recently, Lakshmamma slipped and fell at home and was hospitalised in Miryalaguda. As her condition was serious, the doctors advised that she be taken home, where she would survive on oxygen.

On Wednesday, the youngest daughter brought Lakshmamma home with oxygen support in an ambulance. Meanwhile, her son arrived and convened a meeting with the elders and expressed his desire to take his mother to his house. However, the other daughters insisted that she should not be moved until the property transfers were settled. Lakshmamma passed away around 11:00 pm.

The son then moved Lakshmamma's body to Kandulavari Gudem. However, the dispute over her property was not resolved. Lakshmamma had Rs. 21 lakhs and 20 tula gold ornaments in her savings. Out of this, Rs. 6 lakhs were given to the youngest daughter for bearing the medical expenses, while the remaining Rs. 15 lakhs and 20 tolas of gold were divided among the three daughters.

Just as the situation seemed to be resolved, the son raised another issue. He refused to bear the funeral expenses unless he was compensated and caused further delays. Lakshmamma's body remained in the freezer, and the villagers expressed concerns worried about the conflict. Eventually, the elders mediated, and the son agreed to perform the last rites.