The deceased K Sneha of Periya Venmani village and Santhosh (20) of Cheyyur, an auto driver, were allegedly in a relationship for over two years. Since they belong to different caste, their parents were against it.

While they had not been in touch for the last six months, Sneha called Santhosh a week ago and asked him to come to a casuarina farm in the locality on Saturday.

After Santhosh, who came along with his friend Vicky, allegedly said no to Sneha’s request to marry her, the latter took out a bottle of kerosene from her handbag and poured it on herself before lighting the match. Santhosh, who did not anticipate this, tried to douse the fire and suffered burns. Passersby rescued and rushed her to a local hospital, but with near 90 per cent burns, she was transferred to Kilpauk MCH where she died without responding to treatment.

Based on a complaint by Sneha’s father Kabali, Cheyyur police registered a case and arrested Santhosh and Vicky on abetment charges.