Tragic end to love story: Auto driver kills American wife, sets himself on fire

Agra: A love story that cut across barriers of nationality and class had a gruesome end when an autorickshaw driver stabbed to death his American wife - just five months after their marriage - and then set himself on fire.

Giving details of the twin tragedy in this town, home to Taj Mahal - the monument of love, SSP Shalabh Mathur said that Bunty (32) killed Arianne Willinger (35) following a quarrel and later committed suicide by setting himself afire in his room Thursday night.

Mathur said the US Embassy had been informed about the death of the American woman.

Bunty had met Willinger when she visited Agra along with a group of Americans in July last year, he said, adding that they got married in a court on October 11 and started living together in the Shaheed Nagar Colony of the city.

But soon differences between them surfaced and the two started living separately, Arianne living in Tajganj and Bunty in Sanjay Nagar, Ukkarra.

Following their estrangement, Arianne reported the matter to the Tourism police and a case was registered with the Family Court. However, it is said the two kept meeting each other. On Thursday, Bunty took Arianne out in his autorickshaw to Tucker Road.

After reaching a lonely spot, he attacked her with a knife, killing her on the spot, police said, adding that he later threw the body on the roadside and went back to his room and set himself on fire.

When Bunty's neighbours reached the room and tried to douse the fire, they found Bunty severely burnt. He died soon afterwards. Police also said that the neighbours had reported hearing a loud burst. Police said the blood-stained knife with which Arianne was stabbed has been recovered and the bodies sent for postmortem.