A 19-year-old girl who was set ablaze by a youth a few days ago in Thiruvalla succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Kochi on Wednesday. She had suffered 52 per cent burns.
A 20-year-old man, who claimed to be her lover, stabbed the girl, poured petrol on her and set her ablaze after she rejected his proposal. The girl, a radiology student, was rushed to a private hospital before being shifted to Ernakulam Medical Centre for further treatment.
The accused was the girl's classmate in Class XII.
A resident of Ayiroor in Thiruvalla, the girl had told police that the youth professed his love for her, but she had spurned his proposal. Eyewitnesses told media that the accused, who was accompanying the girl, suddenly poured petrol on her before setting her ablaze.
Ajin Reji Mathew, a Kumbanad native, had planned to kill the 19-year-old and commit suicide as he feared she might leave him. He came to Thiruvalla on Tuesday with petrol, lighter and a rope in his bag, the police said.
Ajin was booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, police said. The court remanded the accused and sent him to the Mavelikkara sub-jail.
This story first appeared in Onmanorama.
