Just days after a young Kerala woman was set on fire in broadlight in Pathanamthitta district, another horrific incident has occurred in Kochi. A man poured petrol over two women riding on a two-wheeler in an attempt to set them ablaze on Thursday night. Fortunately, the two women managed to escape safely.

The incident occurred in the high-end residential and commercial area, Panampilly Nagar in Kochi. According to police, after the women began shouting, the man abandoned his plans to set them on fire and fled the spot.

“The two young women were riding on a Scooty through Panampilly Nagar. Someone who came in a bike, stopped them and suddenly poured petrol on both of them. When the girls suddenly shouted, the guy fled the scene,” a police official told TNM.

Both the women were taken to a private hospital in the area for primary treatment and are reportedly safe.

Police have registered a case invoking section 308 (Attempt to commit Culpable Homicide). According to the police, the identity of the man in question remains unknown. “Since the woman also said they could not recognise the person, we are still enquiring about it,” said the police official.

The women, who are from Kottayam district in Kerala and Ooty in Tamil Nadu, currently work in Kochi.

On Tuesday, a woman from Thiruvalla was set on fire by an 18-year-old stalker. 20-year-old Kavitha Vijayakumar was stabbed during the brutal attack and sustained about 65% burn injuries. She is in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi.