A lascivious man in the village of Raghunathapalli, Warangal, met a fiery death after he tried to rape an 18-year-old.
Monica, an intermediate student, was alone in her house as her daily-wage labourer parents had left for work. 30-year-old Babu approached Monica under the pretext of wanting water and attempted to assault her. When the girl resisted his advances, he pounded her head with his hammer.
The anguished cries of the intermediate student had her neighbours rushing to her rescue, and she was reportedly transported to MGM hospital.
Infuriated by the sight of the hammered rape victim, an angry mob comprising upto 200 villagers built an impromptu pyre of hay and set Babu ablaze.
Babu is survived by his wife and 3 daughters. Babu's wife has reportedly stated that her husband was suffering from mental imbalance.
The local police, who were grossly outnumbered at the site, were but mute spectators of the mob justice being meted out.