A 24-year-old youth in Chowduwada, Andhra Pradesh, allegedly set his girlfriend ablaze when she asked him to marry her. The incident came to light during the early hours of Friday, when the Vizianagaram police received a Disha SOS stating that a woman had been set ablaze.

On reaching the spot, the police learned that three persons, including a child, had suffered burns. Probe revealed that a youth had poured petrol on the three victims and set them ablaze.

The youth, who was identified as Rambabu, was in a relationship with 21-year-old Ramulamma. Rambabu had initially agreed to marry Ramulamma but had been ignoring her. During the early hours of Friday, the accused allegedly poured petrol over Ramulamma and her family members when they were sleeping outside their home in Chouduwada village and set them ablaze, The Times of India reported.

After being apprised of the case, the police rushed to the spot and took the woman to a local hospital, from where she was shifted to Vishakapatnam for better treatment. The woman was taken to Vishakapatnam on the Chief Minister’s orders. The accused was nabbed soon after the incident and will be sent to judicial remand.

Speaking on the incident, the CMO released a statement that read, “CM has inquired about the incident by speaking to the officials and directed the officials to shift the victims to higher centre in Vishakapatnam for better treatment. CM also directed officials to initiate stern action on the accused. ” Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Nara Lokesh blamed the government for the incident.