In a disturbing incident that happened in Chiyyaram in Thrissur, a 21-year-old young woman Neethu was burnt alive on Thursday. According to reports, the incident took place around 7 am at Neethu's house. Though people from around her house came running hearing her cries, Neethu had died before they reached. Nidheesh, a native of Vadakkekad, was caught by passers-by before he could flee from the scene and was handed over to the police. According to police sources, Neethu was stabbed before she was set on fire.
The victim is an engineering student at the Axis Engineering College in Kodakara. She lived near Ollukavu Bhavathy Temple, at Chiyyaram in Thrissur, with her aunt and grandparent. According to initial reports, her mother had passed away a few years ago and her father had re-married before that.
Eyewitnesses told Manorama that they saw a motorcycle kept outside the house. They heard a cry from the victim's house and rushed to the spot. Nidheesh reportedly entered through the backdoor of the house. Neethu and her grandmother were alone at the house when the incident took place, reports say. It is however not clear who Nidheesh is.
Her body will be taken to Thrissur Medical College soon.
This incident comes two weeks after Kavitha Vijaykumar, a 20-year-old student was set on fire by her stalker, Ajin Reji Mathew, on March 12. Kavitha had sustained 65% burn injuries in the attack in broad daylight in Pathanamthitta district. She succumbed to her injuries and passed away eight days later.
Kavitha, a BSc student at the Tata Institute of Medical Sciences, was on her way to college when the incident took place.
After the incident, although Ajin attempted to escape, bystanders managed to catch him and handed him over to the police. He was arrested on March 13 for attempted murder. The accused had claimed that the two were in a relationship, said the police, although her family said Kavitha had tried to inform them about him.