Cop set on fire by girlfriend near Avadi

The victim, Venkatesh of Villupuram, is undergoing treatment at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital, with his condition said to be critical. The Tirumullaivoyal police have arrested his girlfriend Asha on charges of attempted murder.

After initially claiming that Venkatesh attempted suicide, Asha reportedly admitted during interrogation that she doused him with petrol and set him ablaze as she was upset over his new relationship with a policewoman.

Tirumullaivoyal police, who are investigating the incident, said Venkatesh was attached to the second battalion of the Tamil Nadu Special Police in Avadi, and stayed at the police quarters in Sathyamoorthy Nagar.

“Venkatesh married one Jaya from Villupuram district in 2012 and the couple have two children. However, she came to know about his relationship with Asha from Vyasarpadi and separated from him in 2015. While their son lives with Jaya, the daughter lives with Venkatesh,” police said.

It is said that Asha moved in with him to the police quarters a few months ago after separating from her husband, with whom she has two children. However, after she came to know that Venkatesh has developed a relationship with a policewoman, she became angry which often led to quarrels between them.

On Sunday, an argument broke out between them around 1 am when Venkatesh reached home. He was reported under the influence of alcohol at that time. “Asha claims that Venkatesh tried to set her ablaze. It was only after that she snatched the petrol can and poured it on him. When he ran out of the house, she chased and set him afire,” police said.

Venkatesh was rushed to the hospital by the neighbours in a 108 ambulance and the Tirumullaivoyal police was alerted. Venkatesh remains to be in a critical condition with over 80 per cent burns, Asha has been arrested under Section 307 of IPC and remanded into judicial custody.