Family of man burnt alive by girlfriend in Byadarahalli seeks justice

BENGALURU: A day after a woman burnt alive her boyfriend to death by dousing him in kerosene after restraining him, the family members of the deceased youth gathered in front of Byadarahalli police station on Wednesday, demanding justice. They said they would not accept the body until justice is served.

According to the relatives, Kiran was a very good boy and their native place is Gollarahatti in Chikkanayakanahalli, Tumakuru district. His family had been looking for a bride for him and he was getting a house constructed in his village. Kiran had been working in Bengaluru for the last six years.

The family expressed disbelief that one woman could tie his hands and legs and kill him alone and suspect others were involved in the murder. They demanded either the accused woman be handed over to them, or proper justice be ensured. “We cannot believe she committed the murder alone,” the aggrieved family members said.

The woman, Prema, killed her boyfriend Kiran by setting him on fire with kerosene at her house in Byadarahalli police limits on Tuesday. According to reports, the accused, Prema, planned the act under the pretext of a ‘western style’ proposal. She restrained and blindfolded the victim and even recorded the act. After that, she used kerosene to set him on fire, leading to his death. He was unable to escape. The motive appears to be that Kiran had blocked her number and was avoiding her.

During police interrogation, it was revealed that Prema had been in contact with Kiran for four years and in a relationship for two years. Kiran had recently been avoiding Prema and was in contact with an ex-lover. He had celebrated his ex-lover’s birthday and taken photos, which led to a fight between Kiran and Prema. After that, Kiran blocked Prema’s number and avoided her.

Prema later called from another number saying she would marry him on the day he wanted. Within just two days, the murder was planned and executed. Police are investigating whether Prema planned it alone by referring to Google or had someone’s help. She had purchased a handcuff belt online. The two had met in August, and the woman proposed on February 14, which Kiran accepted.

Prema had reportedly intended to gift Kiran a bike worth Rs 4.5 lakh and a mobile phone. But recently, Kiran had been distancing himself from her, which deeply hurt Prema. On the day of the incident, the two first went to see a bike, but a fight broke out again over marriage. During the altercation, Prema set Kiran on fire at her house. The Byadarahalli police have taken Prema into custody and are interrogating her. During questioning, she revealed also revealed that she had intended to end her life too after killing Kiran.

On Wednesday, Kiran’s father said, “He was our only son. We raised him without ever hitting him and sent him to Bengaluru”. His relative Veena said they had known each other only for 4-5 months. “When told that Kiran was in the ICU, his mother fainted. Why did it have to reach the point of killing? Who will take care of his parents now? If she had come home and asked, we would have gotten them married. He was not married. Kiran’s sibling had died at a young age due to a snake bite”, she said.