TN student held for attempting to set woman ablaze in Tiruvallur

A 21-year-old engineering student was arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district on Thursday, November 12, for allegedly attempting to set a woman student on fire by pouring petrol on her.According to reports, the incident took place near Ariyapakkam in Periyapalayam when the woman, a 20-year-old third-year student at a private arts and science college, was travelling on a college bus from Uthukottai. The accused, Srikanth alias Samuel, who is also a third-year engineering student on the same campus, allegedly intercepted the bus on his motorcycle and parked his vehicle in front of it, forcing the driver to stop.He confronted the woman about his liking for her and asked her to get off the bus. When she refused, an argument broke out, and Srikanth allegedly took out a can of petrol and attempted to pour it on her.At least 11 other students were on the bus when the incident occurred. Hearing the commotion, the bus driver, the attendant and the public intervened, overpowered Srikanth and handed him over to the Periyapalayam police.According to the police, Srikanth, a resident of Palavakkam village, was in love with the woman but was upset that she had been ignoring him. He had reportedly been following the college bus for the past two days after she refused to speak to him on the college premises.The police said Srikanth had extracted petrol from his motorcycle's fuel tank and carried it with him and had attempted to threaten her by pouring it. Based on a complaint lodged by the woman's parents, the Periyapalayam police registered a case under sections of the law including attempt to murder and women harassment.Srikanth has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody at Puzhal Central Prison.