Thiruvananthapuram: A 36-year-old man who was set ablaze by two men after he failed to return Rs 20,000 he borrowed from them at Mylapore in Kollam, died on Monday at the medical college hospital (MCH) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The deceased is Riyas, a resident of Konamvila Veedu near Umayanalloor. Riyas suffered 70% burns in the incident.
Kottiyam police registered a case in connection with the incident which occurred on Saturday night, and two youths, Shafeek, 36, and Thufail, 29, were arrested and are currently in judicial custody.
Riyas was a fish vendor, and he borrowed money from the accused to meet a financial emergency at home but could not pay it back on time.
Riyas stopped attending to their calls, which prompted the accused to threaten and kill him. The accused waited for his arrival near his house on Saturday. They stopped the autorickshaw in which he was coming and pulled him out.
They doused petrol on him and threatened him. However, one of them set him on fire. Soon, they fled the spot. Police took them into custody and recorded the arrest.
Police booked them under BNS Section 103 (Murder).
Riyas is survived by his wife and two children aged 17 and 15 years.