NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old woman died after her former live-in partner set her on fire in broad daylight on a busy Bengaluru street, police said Monday.
The victim, identified as Vanajakshi, succumbed to severe burn injuries on Sunday night, a day after the attack in the city’s Hulimavu area. Her former partner, 52-year-old Vittal, has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
The assault occurred Saturday afternoon as Vanajakshi and her companion, Muniyappa, were on their way to St John’s Hospital to visit her nephew. When traffic slowed near Hommadevanahalli, Vittal—who had allegedly been following them—blocked their car, doused it with petrol, and confronted the pair.
Muniyappa urged Vanajakshi to flee, but she stumbled while running. Vittal then poured petrol on her and set her ablaze with a lighter. Eyewitnesses tried to stop him—one passerby attempted to seize the petrol can—but were unable to prevent the attack. Two people sustained burns while trying to rescue her.
Before collapsing, Vanajakshi reportedly named Vittal as her attacker and accused him of harassing her for companionship. She was rushed to Victoria Hospital and later shifted to St John’s Hospital, where she died.
Police described the case as one of “obsession and anger.” Investigators said Vanajakshi’s past included a marriage to Madhu, an older man who later died, followed by a live-in relationship with Vittal. In recent years, she had grown close to Muniyappa, a businessman, which police believe triggered Vittal’s rage.
The attack, carried out in front of stunned commuters, has left local residents horrified at the brutality of the crime.
