Bangalore: Woman, set ablaze by colleague, dies

Bangalore, Aug 16 (DHNS): The 23-year-old woman, who was set ablaze by her colleague in an attempt to suppress their alleged affair, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday.

According to the police, Pavitra, 23, had sustained third degree burns and was in a traumatised state.

“Stabilising after the preliminary treatment, the victim voluntarily agreed to give statement before the district magistrate on Wednesday. But, later her condition worsened and she succumbed to the burns in the critical care unit in the Victoria Hospital,” DCP (North) Sandeep Patil said.

Pavitra, a resident of Srirampuram, was employed as a supervisor in a leather goods factory at Gorguntepalya. The police said Pavitra was in a relationship with S Bharathi, a manager at the same firm and the two had planned to marry, with the consent of her family.

According to Pavitra’s elder sister Aishwarya, Pavitra had recently received a call from a woman, who identified herself as Vijaya from Tamil Nadu. VIjaya claimed that she was Bharathi's second wife and had two children from him. She also alleged that Bharathi's first wife had died under mysterious circumstances. “When Pavitra confronted Bharathi with this new revelation, he invited her to his house at Guddadahalli Road at Hebbal, doused her with inflammable liquid and set her ablaze,” Aishwarya alleged.

Bharathi is also undergoing treatment in the same hospital for burns that he sustained during the alleged attack.

“We had earlier registered a case under IPC 307 (attempt to murder) against the suspect. However, with the new development, we will book him under IPC 302 (murder). As soon as Bharathi is discharged from the hospital, we will arrest him,” DCP Sandeep said.

A case has been registered at Hebbal police station.