Kerala: Stalker sets girl, self ablaze in Kottayam college, both succumb

According to police, Adarsh entered the lecture hall of the physiotherapy department around noon when Lakshmi was with her classmates. He told her that he wanted to talk to her in private, but when Lakshmi rejected the demand, Adarsh left in a huff.

Minutes later, Adarsh allegedly returned with a can of petrol and went to the classroom. He reportedly poured petrol over her and also himself. As he tried setting the girl on fire using a lighter, Lakshmi rushed out of the room. She tried hiding in a nearby library hall, where Adarsh chased her down and set her ablaze. He also caught fire in his bid to set the girl ablaze. Engulfed in flames, both ran within the library hall screaming for help. They later collapsed outside the library, where college teachers doused the fire and rushed them to the hospital.

Police said both had sustained about 70 per cent burns. According to police, after the incident, Lakshmi in her statement to the magistrate said that she had filed a complaint against Adarsh for stalking.