VIJAYAWADA: A 17-year-old girl was set on fire by a youngster in Nandikotkur of Nandyal district on Monday. The girl succumbed to her injuries, while the accused, identified as Raghavendra (21), who was injured in the incident, is undergoing treatment at Kurnool govt hospital with severe burn injuries.
According to police, the accused was harassing the girl, a native of Samarlakota in Veldurthi mandal, for over three years under the pretext of love.
To escape his advances, her parents sent her to her grandmother’s house in Nandikotkur six months ago. Despite the move, Raghavendra continued to pursue her.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Monday. The girl was sleeping in her study room when Raghavendra knocked on her door. When she opened it, he entered the room and locked the door from inside.
He then poured petrol on her and set her ablaze. The girl screamed for help but could not escape as the accused stuffed a cloth in her mouth to prevent her from crying out loudly.
Hearing the commotion, locals rushed to the spot and caught Raghavendra as he tried to flee. He was injured in the fire he started.
Police who reached the scene began an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and the motive behind this heinous crime.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the accused was obsessively stalking and harassing the girl despite her repeated rejections.
The girl’s tragic death has sparked outrage in the community, with locals demanding strict action against the accused. Police have registered a case and are gathering evidence.
