Hyderabad woman set on fire by stalker on street dies in hospital
Police said Sandhya Rani died while undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, a day after she was set on fire by the accused who claimed she rejected his marriage proposal
A 25-year-old woman, who was allegedly set ablaze on Thursday evening in full public view in Secunderabad by a man suspected to be her former lover, succumbed to her burns this morning, police said.
She died around 7.30am while undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, deputy commissioner of police (north zone) B Sumathi said. The man, aged around 28, has been arrested.
Sandhya Rani, a graduate, worked as a receptionist at an aluminium fabrication unit, police said.
Sumathi said, the man has allegedly told the police that Rani rejected his marriage proposal because he is not talented and she is more talented and beautiful. “After she rejected him, he didn’t want her to accept anybody else also,” the DCP said.
As per preliminary investigation, the man called Rani to the Lalaguda area, located about 10 kilometres from here.
Quoting eye-witnesses, the police said she was returning home when the youth on a motorcycle met her. They were seen talking for about 10 minutes. Then the attacker suddenly sprinkled petrol and set her on fire. He escaped before people could raise an alarm.
Hearing her cries, some passersby rushed to help her and doused the flames. The woman, who suffered 60% burns, was then shifted to the hospital.
“She passed away this morning. We are now altering the case sections also,” Sumathi said.
On Thursday, the police had registered a case under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder).
The police neither disclosed any details about the man nor confirmed if he was taken into custody.