Nizamabad hotelier dies after self-immolation at police station, family alleges harassment
Synopsis
A 60-year-old hotel owner walked into a Telangana police station and set himself on fire — an act his family blames on sustained police harassment over a minor late-night operating violation. He died the next morning with 90 per cent burns. With traders shutting down, a BRS leader under house arrest, and police offering a contradictory account, the case has rapidly become a flashpoint over how law enforcement treats small traders.
Key Takeaways
Polasa Sudhakar , 60 , died on 6 October 2026 at a private hospital in Nizamabad , a day after setting himself ablaze inside the Bheemgal police station .
He had sustained roughly 90 per cent burns ; the self-immolation occurred on Monday inside the police station premises.
His family alleges he was fined three times and repeatedly summoned over allegations that his hotel operated after 10 pm .
Nizamabad Police Commissioner P.
Sai Chaitanya denied police harassment was responsible, suggesting a separate dispute with a neighbouring shop owner as a factor.
BRS leader Vemula Prashanth Reddy was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad when he sought to travel to Nizamabad in solidarity.
Traders in Bheemgal observed a full shutdown on Tuesday, demanding accountability for Sudhakar's death.
A 60-year-old hotel owner, Polasa Sudhakar, died on Tuesday, 6 October at a private hospital in Nizamabad, Telangana, a day after allegedly setting himself ablaze inside a police station premises — an act his family attributes to repeated police harassment over his small eatery. He had sustained approximately 90 per cent burns on Monday before succumbing to his injuries the following morning.
What Happened
Sudhakar, who operated a modest hotel near the Bheemgal Bus Stand in Nizamabad, allegedly doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire inside the Bheemgal police station compound. Police personnel reportedly rushed to douse the flames and immediately transported him to a private hospital for treatment, where he died the next morning.
According to his family, the immediate trigger was a fresh summons requiring Sudhakar to appear at the police station, sign proceedings, and present himself before a court to pay a fine — the latest in what they describe as a prolonged cycle of scrutiny.
The Dispute Behind the Act
Authorities had registered a petty case against Sudhakar's establishment, alleging it operated beyond permissible hours and placed tables outside after 10 pm. Sudhakar reportedly told police he had been questioned multiple times and fined on three separate occasions. He is said to have questioned why action was being taken against his hotel while other establishments in the area also operated late.
However, Nizamabad Police Commissioner P. Sai Chaitanya denied the family's allegations, stating the police were not at fault. He offered an alternative account: the owner of a grocery shop situated opposite Sudhakar's tea stall was allegedly unhappy that Sudhakar did not buy cigarettes from his shop, and had allegedly sent two individuals to threaten him.
Protests and Political Fallout
Following Sudhakar's death, family members, relatives, and traders gathered outside the Bheemgal police station to stage a protest, demanding justice and accountability. Traders in Bheemgal observed a complete shutdown on Tuesday in solidarity.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad after he reportedly prepared to travel to Nizamabad to meet Sudhakar's family. Reddy held police harassment responsible for the death.
Competing Accounts and What Comes Next
The incident has exposed a sharp divergence between the police's account and that of the family. The family has demanded that senior officials investigate the sequence of events and take appropriate action if any wrongdoing is confirmed. The police, meanwhile, have pointed to a third-party dispute as a possible contributing factor.
With a protest shutdown under way, political pressure mounting, and BRS seeking to visit the family, authorities in Nizamabad are likely to face intensifying scrutiny over how the case was handled from the outset.
Point of View
Offered without supporting detail, risks looking like institutional deflection rather than genuine investigation. The political response — BRS rushing to make the story its own, traders shutting down — suggests the ground-level anger is real, and that accountability, if it comes, will be extracted through pressure rather than internal process.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Polasa Sudhakar and why did he set himself on fire?
Polasa Sudhakar, 60, was a small hotel owner operating near the Bheemgal Bus Stand in Nizamabad, Telangana. He allegedly set himself ablaze inside the Bheemgal police station on Monday after being summoned repeatedly and fined three times over allegations that his establishment operated after 10 pm, according to his family.
What do the police say about the allegations of harassment?
Nizamabad Police Commissioner P. Sai Chaitanya denied that police harassment caused Sudhakar's death, stating the police were not at fault. He offered an alternative account suggesting that the owner of a nearby grocery shop, unhappy that Sudhakar did not buy cigarettes from him, had allegedly sent two men to threaten Sudhakar.
What action is the family demanding?
Sudhakar's family has demanded that senior police officials investigate the full circumstances of the case and take action if wrongdoing is established. They allege that repeated fines and summons over a minor operational violation drove him to take the extreme step.
What is the political reaction to Sudhakar's death?
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad when he attempted to travel to Nizamabad to console the family. Reddy has publicly blamed police harassment for the death. Traders in Bheemgal also observed a complete shutdown on Tuesday demanding justice.
What were the specific charges against Sudhakar's hotel?
Authorities had registered a petty case alleging that Sudhakar's hotel operated late at night and placed tables outside the establishment after 10 pm. He was reportedly fined on three occasions and, most recently, was asked to appear at the police station, sign proceedings, and present himself in court to pay a fresh fine.
