Girl set on fire by stalker

Teenager dies in hospital with 80% burns

• Accused had been stalking the victim for quite some time
• Accused along with 30 others attacked the victim’s family recently

Eluru: In a shocking incident, an 18-year-old girl, who was set on fire by two youth at her house in Chataparru village of Eluru rural mandal in West Godavari district on Saturday, died at the Government Hospital in Eluru.

According to police, two youth Daggumilli Peda Babu alias Peda Vicky and Daggumilli China Babu alias China Vicky of Yadava Nagar in Chataparru village went to the house of Pydala Indumathi (18), doused her in kerosene and set her on fire. The victim was moved to the hospital, where she died battling 80 per cent burn injuries.

The police said the victim was being harassed by one of the accused China Vicky, who used to stalk her, while she was going to the college. When she complained about the same to her parents, they confined her to home.

Things turned ugly, when the victims’ parents warned the accused and three days ago beat China Vicky as he was harassing Indumathi in the name of love. Following this incident, the accused duo with thirty others attacked the houses of Indumathi and her relatives injuring seven persons.

On Saturday morning, the Eluru Rural Police called the heads of both the families to diffuse the tension. Post meeting, when family members of the victim were in the field, the accused sneaked into the house and set the girl ablaze.

The police nabbed the accused within hours of the incident. Superintendent of Police Bhaskar Bushan enquired into the incident and visited the hospital. Speaking to reporters at the hospital, the SP said that rowdy-sheet will be opened on both the accused.