Man sets self on fire, hugs teen

A 19-year-old youth on Thursday immolated himself and hugged his 13-year-old-lover on Chennai-Bangalore highway at  Sriperumbudur. Later, he died at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

The girl who suffered burns on her face and hands is being treated in the same hospital. The girl has finished her Class 7 and is the daughter of Kamalanathan (35) and Maharani (28) who owns a mobile pani-puri stall.

Mohan had allegedly taken the girl to Tirupati on June 5 following which the family filed a complaint with the Sriperumbudur police for kidnap. Meanwhile, he reportedly brought her back on the wee hours of Thursday.

Thursday morning, the girl, her parents along with the girl’s brother Ajith Kumar (17) and uncle, Raju (21) were on their way to the police station to inform the police that the girl is back. When they were on Chennai-Bangalore highway around 9 am, Mohan allegedly ran towards the group, set himself ablaze and hugged the girl. The girl sustained about 20-25 per cent burns. Mohan later died in hospital.

The Sriperumbudur police said they registered two cases on Mohan - one for attempt to murder and another for attempt to suicide.