PUDUCHERRY: Teenager Naveena (17), who was burnt alive by a stalker who was furious with her for rejecting his repeated advances, succumbed to her injuries at JIPMER hospital here on Wednesday.
The tension since the incident took place still prevails in Villupuram town as the girl and the stalker Senthil belong to different communities. Senthil (32), a Dalit, is a driver in a private transport company. He had been following Naveena for a year.
He then met with a train accident in which he lost his right arm and right
leg. He was under the assumption that Naveena, hailing from the Vanniyar community, was rejecting his love because of his injuries and so planned to attack her. On Monday, Senthil Kumar entered Naveena's house when her parents were away.
The girl and her younger brother were alone at home and Senthil threatened them at knifepoint after locking them in a room. He poured petrol on himself, set fire to it and hugged the girl.
Both were admitted to Mundiyambakkam GH by neighbours but Senthil died on the same day. Senthil had earlier lodged a complaint that his hand and leg were severed for having an affair with Naveena who is a Vanniyar.
But later, in a police inquiry, it was found that Senthil had lost his hand and leg in a train accident and it was confirmed by the fact-finding team. Police had called Senthil to the station and warned him that such claims would trigger tension between the two communities. According to reports, Senthil had been in prison for two years for harassing a woman in 2011 and had attacked her uncle in January.
PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss, in a statement here, flayed a few Dalit groups for bringing the caste angle into the incident and supporting Senthil. He also demanded appropriate compensation for the girl's family.
