In a horrifying incident in Chinnasalem in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, a 21-year old stalker set ablaze a 28-year-old woman for allegedly rejecting his advances.
The accused has been identified as V Elumalai, a college student studying in Perambalur near Trichy, and a resident of Chinnasalem.
Police confirmed that on the morning of August 31, Elumalai visited the victim’s house in Paakambadi village at around 7 am and demanded to have sex with her. When she refused and asked him to leave, the 21-year-old allegedly grabbed kerosene that he found near the house and set the victim ablaze. The incident took place by 9 am.
Speaking to TNM, an officer from the Keelkuppam police station said, “The woman is married with 2 children and stayed with her in-laws. Her husband works in Singapore. In the morning, her in-laws had gone for farming and her kids were in school. She was alone and the accused decided to visit her then and demanded that she have sex with him.”
When the victim refused, the accused is said to have continuously threatened to set her ablaze. He then went on to lock the front door and shut the windows and set her on fire.
“Immediately after he set her on fire, he panicked and tried to save her. In the process, he also suffered 18% burns and is currently admitted in the General Hospital in Athur,” the police officer added.
The victim is extremely critical after sustaining 90% burns. She is undergoing treatment at the Salem Government Hospital.
The accused and the victim have known each other for the last six months, as the accused is friends with the victim’s brother, the police added. The duo had met each other at a wedding a few months ago.
Based on the statement of the victim on the incident, police have registered a case against Elumalai under IPC sections 294 b (sings, recites, utters any obscene song, ballad or words in or near any public place) 448 (house trespass) 342 (wrongful confinement) and 307 (attempt to murder).
Tamil Nadu has witnessed a series of horrific stalker-related crimes over the years. In February 2018, a 23-year-old teacher in Cuddalore was hacked to death by a youth identified as Rajasekhar for rejecting his advances. The stalker had entered the premises when the victim, Ramya, who worked at a private school was sitting alone in one of the rooms. He then went on to use a sharp object to cut her neck and face, killing her on the spot.