Madurai teen set on fire by relative dies

Following the girl’s death, her kin staged a road roko demanding capital punishment for the accused and adequate compensation. The incident, which sent shock waves across the state, happened on February 16 when Chitra Devi, a class 9 student of Achampatti government higher secondary school, near Tirumangalam in the district, was set ablaze by her relative Balamurugan (23), while she was waiting at a bus stand. 

Police claimed that Balamurugan had stalked Chitra Devi for some months and when she refused to accept his love he had tried to burn the girl alive by pouring petrol over her. 

Chitra Devi, who sustained 64 per cent burns, was undergoing treatment in Madurai GRH. However, she succumbed to her injuries at around 8 am on Tuesday. Following her death, relatives of Chitra Devi refused to accept her body and staged road roko with four demands. Usilampatti RDO, Suganya, visited the spot and held talks with the protesters.