Mother of Chennai Family Set Ablaze by Stalker, Dies

The mother of the 22-year-old set ablaze by her stalker on November 13, died on Tuesday. She had sustained severe burn injuries trying to save her daughter.

On November 13, Akash, a 23-year-old, who had been stalking S Induja entered the family residence at Velachery and threatened to set himself on fire if she did not consent to a relationship. After an argument with her mother, he took the canister of fuel he was carrying and set Induja on fire.

Aakash had claimed that he and Induja were in a relationship and they planned to marry. However, Induja's family said that she had repeatedly rejected his advances leading him to commit this crime. Induja died on the spot.

The perpetrator fled the spot and the neighbours, hearing the screams rushed to the spot. Induja was fully charred from the blaze and died on the spot while her sister Nivedha (20) and mother Renuka (43) sustained serious burns trying to save her. The victim’s father and brother were not at home at the time of the incident.

Renuka had endured 49 percent burns and has a cut on her face and Nivedha suffered 23 percent burns and had injuries on her one hand and legs. The mother and the sister were initially admitted to the burns treatment unit at the Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai. However, due to their critical condition, they were later shifted to Apollo Hospital in Vanagaram.

Both were put on the ventilator and their lungs were severely damaged as they had inhaled a lot of fumes. While Renuka died on Tuesday evening, Nivedha is reported as being stable. Raja Senthil, Induja's father's cousin told TNM that Renuka died around 6.10 pm on Tuesday evening. He also said that Nivedha was stable.

The perpetrator has been arrested by the Chennai police on the very next day of the crime.
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Heena Manghani is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.