Stalker sets 24-year-old Andhra woman on fire

ON OCTOBER 5, THE WOMAN LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH THE GOVERNORPET POLICE IN VIJAYAWADA ALLEGING THAT THE MAN WAS HARASSING HER

“He died in the early hours of Tuesday,” the police officer said.

A 24-year old woman, employed as a nurse at a Covid-19 care centre at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district, was burnt alive by a stalker at her residence on Monday night, the police said. The stalker, who suffered 80% burn injuries himself, also died while being at the Government General Hospital in Guntur early Tuesday.

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) M Ramesh said the woman had been dating he man for the last four years, but told him she wanted to end the relationship a few months ago “Yet, the man had been stalking her and harassing her to marry him.”

On October 5, the woman lodged a complaint with the Governorpet police in Vijayawada alleging that the man was harassing her.

“He was called to the police station and warned against stalking her. After he gave an undertaking that he would not trouble her again, the woman withdrew the complaint,” the ACP said.

The death highlights a growing trend of violence against women.

On Monday night, when the woman returned to her room near the Covid-19 care centre where she was working, the stalker visited her and argued with her about the police complaint.

“It was evident that he came prepared to kill her. During the course of the argument, he took out a bottle of petrol poured it over her and set her ablaze. The woman caught hold of him tightly so that he could not escape after killing her. Listening to their cries, neighbours rushed there and separated them before dousing the fire,” Ramesh said.

The woman died on the spot. The stalker suffered severe burns and was shifted to the government hospital in Guntur after initial treatment in Vijayawada.