Man Burns Girlfriend Alive, Dumps Her In Ditch, Victim Succumbs To Injuries

In a horrific incident, a 22-year-old woman was allegedly attacked and burnt alive by her boyfriend.

On Friday, 25-year-old Avinash Rajure threw acid and petrol on his girlfriend and burnt her alive. The attack took place in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

According to police, Rajure and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Savitra Ankulkar, were traveling on a motorcycle when the former stopped the vehicle at a desolate spot and attacked the victim, news outlet Mid-Day reported.

The police official said the accused initially attempted to strangle Ankulkar, but she fought back, after which he took out a bottle of acid and threw it on her. As she screamed, he poured gasoline on her and set her ablaze. Rajure then pushed her into a deep ditch beside the road, and fled the scene.

"A shepherd tending to his flock heard her whimpering from the ditch... and immediately informed us. We reached the spot and found her in agony with serious acid and petrol burns, and rushed her to the Beed Civil Hospital. She had sustained 50% burn injuries due to the acid and the petrol fire and breathed her last this (Sunday) morning at the hospital after a 16-hour battle for life," investigating officer Laxman Kendre told Mid-Day.

According to preliminary investigation, the accused and the victim were in a live-in relationship, and the motive behind the attack and killing remains unclear.

The victim mentioned in her dying statement to the police she was unaware of her boyfriend's intention to kill her, Times Now reported. Local police registered a case of murder and began a search for the accused.

"He has been detained by Nanded Police and a team has left from Beed to take him into custody. We shall arrest and produce the accused before a court here on Monday," Kendre said.

Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde discussed the issue with the local police and administration.

"It's a grave matter and I have asked the officers to ensure justice for the victim as early as possible," Munde said.