KOCHI: A stalker who tried to set ablaze a woman for rejecting his advances succumbed to burns himself. The woman is in critical condition at the Government Medical College in Kottayam, after the man tried to immolate both himself and the girl.
According to police, the deceased has been identified as Adarsh Suneeran (26), from Neendakara in Kollam, a former Physiotherapy student at the Gandhinagar center of School of Medical Education (SME) Kottayam.
According Dr. R P Renjin, RMO of GMC, Kottayam, the condition of K Lakshmi (21), a fourth year student at SME and daughter of Krishnakumar, from Harippad is extremely critical. She is said to have suffered 65 percent burns in the incident.
According to the eyewitnesses, Adarsh poured petrol on both Lakshmi and himself at SME campus on Wednesday afternoon after she rejected a proposal made by him. When she tried to run away, Adarsh chased her and set her on fire near library hall in the campus. Adarsh, who had come to the campus for attending a supplementary examination, was reportedly carrying a can of petrol.
Two other students, who tried to rescue the girl from the attack, also suffered injuries and were admitted to GMC Hospital.
Gandhinagar police registered a case in connection with the incident.