In a shocking incident that took place on Sunday, a 34-year old woman lab-assistant sustained fatal burns after her boss threw a flammable liquid on her and set her on fire at a diagnostic centre in Madipakkam.

Yamuna who was admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital has reportedly suffered 46% burns, a police official told Times of India.

The woman was working at Sri Balaji Diagnostics.

Raja, the proprietor, was arrested by the Madipakkam police and charged with attempt to murder. He told police officials that he was annoyed with Yamuna as she was lax at work.

In a statement to TOI, a police official said, “Raja said he lost his temper with Yamuna because she handed a customer someone else’s report. But he claimed that Yamuna set herself on fire. His statement does not add up, given accounts from Yamuna’s family.”

Police stated that Raja also claimed that he suffered losses in his business due to Yamuna’s ineptitude.

Yamuna and husband Anandan, a cab driver, live in Sivasubramaniam Nagar, Puzhuthivakkam and have a 4-year-old daughter.

Anandan said that Yamuna had never complained about her boss ever and never knew about this murderous intent that Raja harboured, according to TOI.

“Yamuna ran out of the diagnostic centre ablaze and screaming,” the officer said. “People nearby rushed her to the hospital,” he added.

The police officer also said that Raja and Yamuna have known each other from before and that they both worked as lab assistants at a private hospital before he set up the diagnostic centre a few years ago, according to TOI.

“He is unlikely to have hired her and offered more pay if she was incompetent,” he added.  

The incident comes days after a 14-year-old was doused with kerosene and set on fire by a stalker, reportedly for rejected his marriage proposal.

The class 9 girl was returning from school with her mother, when she was reportedly accosted and set on fire by the 20-year-old stalker. She sustained 60% burns and was admitted to the the Government Hospital.