Kamal Ghorui
VIJAYAWADA: An alcoholic, who had long been suspecting his wife’s fidelity, allegedly charged at her with an axe after an argument, chopped off her leg, and surrendered to police with the severed limb, in Palnadu district on Thursday. The gruesome incident, which occurred at Thondapi village in Muppalla mandal, triggered panic in the area. According to Muppalla police, accused Vallepu Lakshmaiah, a daily wage labourer and resident of Vaddera Colony, had been suspecting his wife V Bhulakshmi (33) of having an extramarital affair. The couple would quarrel over this often, but their argument on Thursday morning turned violent. Lakshmaiah, in a fit of rage, struck Bhulakshmi repeatedly with a firewood axe, severing her right leg. He later went to Muppalla police station carrying the leg and surrendered. Sub-inspector K Anil Kumar immediately took Lakshmaiah into custody, and sent a team to the Guntur govt general hospital with the severed leg to check if it could be reattached through surgery. Meanwhile, neighbours rushed Bhulakshmi, a homemaker, to Guntur GGH, and her family later moved her to NRI medical college hospital in Mangalagiri for better care. Doctors said they are trying to save Bhulakshmi’s leg and her condition is gradually improving. She will be under close observation for the next two days, they added. Police have registered a case and are investigating.
