Coimbatore: Police have arrested a 22-year-old man who killed a 17-year-old girl by setting her aflame in her residence at Senjeriputhur here on Sunday.
Police sources said the accused, S Selvakumar from Senjeriputhur, who worked in a powerloom unit was in a relationship with P Johnsy Priya, a Class XI student in a government higher secondary school. Johnsy had been staying with Kamalam, her 75-year-old grandmother, after her mother died of an illness six years ago. Her father Pushparaj died in an accident two years ago. Her elder brother Johnson Solomon works in a grocery shop.
The minor girl's grandmother and Selvakumar's parents had advised the girl to end the relationship and focus on studies. "The elders were against the relationship as Selvakumar and Johnsy belonged to different communities. However, the duo met often without the knowledge of the elders," the officer told TOI.
"Johnsy left her house on Saturday night after informing Kamalam that she was going to meet her friends. She came back on Sunday. Selvakumar visited the girl's home on Sunday morning when she was alone and told her that as the villagers had come to know about their relationship, he had decided to commit suicide. He asked her too to kill herself and tied a rope from the ceiling. When the girl hesitated to obey him, he poured kerosene on her, set her ablaze and fled," the officer added.
Hearing Johnsy's cries for help, neighbours rushed to the house and extinguished the fire. They rushed her to the Palladam Government Hospital, where she was given first aid. As she had received more than 90% burns, she was shifted to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where she died without responding to the treatment in the evening.
Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate had obtained a dying declaration from the girl. Negamam police registered a case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested Selvakumar. Further investigation is on.
Police sources said the accused, S Selvakumar from Senjeriputhur, who worked in a powerloom unit was in a relationship with P Johnsy Priya, a Class XI student in a government higher secondary school. Johnsy had been staying with Kamalam, her 75-year-old grandmother, after her mother died of an illness six years ago. Her father Pushparaj died in an accident two years ago. Her elder brother Johnson Solomon works in a grocery shop.
The minor girl's grandmother and Selvakumar's parents had advised the girl to end the relationship and focus on studies. "The elders were against the relationship as Selvakumar and Johnsy belonged to different communities. However, the duo met often without the knowledge of the elders," the officer told TOI.
"Johnsy left her house on Saturday night after informing Kamalam that she was going to meet her friends. She came back on Sunday. Selvakumar visited the girl's home on Sunday morning when she was alone and told her that as the villagers had come to know about their relationship, he had decided to commit suicide. He asked her too to kill herself and tied a rope from the ceiling. When the girl hesitated to obey him, he poured kerosene on her, set her ablaze and fled," the officer added.
Hearing Johnsy's cries for help, neighbours rushed to the house and extinguished the fire. They rushed her to the Palladam Government Hospital, where she was given first aid. As she had received more than 90% burns, she was shifted to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where she died without responding to the treatment in the evening.
Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate had obtained a dying declaration from the girl. Negamam police registered a case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested Selvakumar. Further investigation is on.
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