CHENNAI: Sudhakar (20) of Kannanthangal village in Kancheepuram was burnt to death by five members of his next door neighbours for allegedly watching a woman take bath.
On Saturday, when a woman member of Sudhakar’s next-door family noticed him peeping into the bathroom as she was taking bath, she informed her parents about it.
“Subsequently, Sudhakar was severely beaten up by villagers and the woman’s family members on that day. Apparently, he was returning home on his bike when he was intercepted and assaulted,” said a police officer.
Sudhakar had told the police in the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital that he was severely beaten up by the five men. They later poured kerosene and set him on fire.
“He said he managed to survive by jumping into a pond. Even with the severe burn injuries, he managed to ride the bike and reached home. He was treated in a local hospital and was later referred to KMCH in Chennai,” said a police officer.
Sudhakar suffered 40 per cent burns and on Tuesday wanted to give a statement before a magistrate.
While the police initially registered a case of attempt to murder, on Tuesday, after Sudhakar’s death, the case was changed to a murder case.
“The dying declaration correlates with the initial complaint lodged by his family on Monday. Since the dying declaration is deemed to be of the highest value in the Indian Evidence Act, all the five persons named by him have been booked and remanded in judicial custody,” said a senior police officer.
Police identified the arrested persons in the case as Murugan, Kanniyappan, Murugan, Shankar and Kumar.