Bengaluru youth sets girlfriend's house ablaze

BENGALURU: Four members of a family, including a minor girl, sustained burn injuries after a 22-year-old youth allegedly set fire to his girlfriend’s house in Sai Baba Nagar, for postponing marriage, early Saturday.

The Srirampura police have arrested the accused, identified as Deepak a resident of Srirampura, in this connection.

The injured have been identified as Meghana, 21, Deepak’s girlfriend, a second year engineering student, who sustained 60% burns, her younger sister, Sanjana, 16, who also sustained 60% burns.

During the blaze, Meghana’s father Natraj and mother Anupama escaped with minor injuries. All are currently undergoing treatment in St. John’s hospital and their condition is reportedly stable.   

Police said that Deepak, an engineering dropout, bought 2 litres of petrol, climbed atop a nearby building and broke open the window of the house and allegedly poured petrol in the hall, where Meghana was sleeping along with her sister Sanjana. Then he went to her parent’s bedroom, poured petrol and set it ablaze. The hall and kitchen got gutted.

The incident took place around 12.30 am in Saibaba Nagar. Deepak had become mentally unstable and violent for the last one month. He was sent to his grandfather’s house in Yelahanka a week ago by his parents.

Deepak had proposed his classmate Meghana, who was pursuing engineering and a close family friend. Around four years ago Deepak’s family and Meghana’s family were neigbours at Srirampura.

Deepak and Meghana were in love and their parents had agreed for their marriage, police added. According to the police, few days back Deepak had come to Meghana’s house to persuade her to get married to him as soon as possible.

However Natraj advised Deepak to continue his studies and can get married once he completes his course. Meghana too told Deepak to wait for two years until she completed her engineering. She also told Deepak not to drop out of his studies.

“Deepak had grown violent and mentally unstable after Meghana stopped receiving his calls. Looking at their son’s behaviour, his parents had sent him to Yelahanka and were unaware about what he was up to. Deepak has been booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) of IPC. Srirampura police is carrying out further investigation.