Youth set on fire by miscreants over love affair with relative, battling for life in hospital

BENGALURU: Some unidentified miscreants set a youth on fire after pouring petrol on him over a love affair with a relative near Kaniminake toll out the outskirts of the city. The youth sustained 85 per cent burn injuries and is undergoing treatment at hospital.

The victim has been identified as Shashank (18), son of Ranganath and Satyaprema, residents of RR Nagar. The attackers set him on fire and fled the scene.

Shashank was studying computer science at a private college in the city. He was said to be in love with one of his relative’s daughter. This was opposed by the parents of the girl.

Shashank’s father Ranganath dropped him off at the college at 8 am on Saturday. But after 8.45 am, he had no classes and when he was heading towards BM Road around 9.30 am, a gang of six people waylaid him, kidnapped him near the RR Nagar college in an Innova car, gagged him and tied up hands and feet after covering his eyes with a piece of cloth.

Later, they took him to a deserted area near Kaniminike Toll and committed the crime. Shashank managed to put out the fire himself and called his friends, who reached the spot and admitted him to the hospital.

The accused Manu (left) and the place where accused committed the crime.

Previously, Shashank had taken the girl, who had come to Bengaluru from Mysuru, to his house. The parents of the girl, who were upset with their relationship, created a ruckus and assaulted Shashank at his house. After this, Shashank said that he would stay away from the girl. Yet, the miscreants attacked him and set him afire.

A case has been registered at the Kumbalgodu police station against the accused Manu and others. The police are on the lookout for the absconding accused.

Shashank, in his statement, said there were seven people in the group and identified the accused as Manu in the group as he is wearing a bangle (kada) on his hand. The accused Manu is happens to be an uncle of Shashank.