A 22-year-old engineering student was set ablaze after being stabbed on the neck by a youth at her residence at Chiyyaram, near here, on Thursday for allegedly rejecting his marriage proposal. The victim was identified as Neethu, a third year student of a private engineering college in the district.
The police arrested Nithish, 32, of Vadakkekkad, in connection with the murder. Local people caught him while he was trying to escape from the scene on his bike and handed him over to the police. Nithish, an MBA graduate, is working in a private firm in Kochi.
The incident occurred at around 7 a.m. Neethu was found in the bathroom of her house with more than 80% burns. Neethu, who lost her mother as a child, was staying with her grandmother and uncle. The police suspect that the killer entered the house through the back door.
He stabbed on her neck with a sharp weapon and set her ablaze after pouring petrol over her body. It is suspected that rejection of marriage proposal led to the murder. Neethu’s relatives said she had complained that Nithish used to stalk her.
Neighbours who reached the house after hearing Neethu’s grandmother’s call for help caught Nithish who was trying to escape. Though they rushed Neethu to the hospital she was declared brought dead.
The police suspect that Neethu having been stabbed on the neck couldn’t cry for help. They said Nithish had come prepared to kill her. They recovered his motorbike, a knife, petrol can and a pair of chappal from the crime scene.
