Kerala: Jilted lover sets girl and self ablaze, both succumb to burn injuries

A jilted lover set his former girlfriend on fire inside a medical college classroom in Kerala’s Kottayam town on Wednesday, and later immolated himself, police said. Suffering serious burns, both of them later succumbed to their injuries at a hospital.

According to police, the accused barged into the classroom at the School of Medical Education (SME) with a bottle of petrol and before the girl’s classmates could react, he poured the fuel on her and set her ablaze.

The attacker, who also studied in the same medical school and completed his course two years ago, then rushed out of the classroom and set himself on fire.

Both the girl -- who was a fourth semester student of physiotherapy -- and the accused were admitted to the Kottayam medical college hospital with serious burns. Both of them later succumbed to their injuries.

Two classmates who tried to save them also suffered minor burn injuries.

According to girl’s friends, the two were in love for some time but the girl backed out after her parents opposed their relationship. After this, the accused -- identified as Adarsh (25), a resident of Kollam -- stalked and threatened her on several occasions, they said.

“The incident took place in just a few seconds. The girl tried to escape but he followed her and lit her with a lighter,” said Ashwin, her classmate who was injured while trying to save her.

The School of Medical Education (SME) is a constituent college of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.