Widow hurt in petrol attack by upset man

Relative gets into revenge act over marriage proposalA

Chittoor: A 23-year-old widow Divya Bharati from Sadashivapuram in Yerpeedu mandal near Srikalahasti of Chittoor district suffered grievous burn injuries on Friday when she was attacked by her distant relative Mohan who threw petrol on her which caught fire later accidentally. He was reportedly upset over her parents not showing interest in the marriage proposal that he made to her.

Divya Bharati was married four years ago and her husband died in a road accident eight months ago. Her distant cousin Mohan wanted to marry her and proposed to her. However, her parents told him to wait till her education was completed. But unable to wait any longer, he started pestering her to marry him.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, Bharati's maternal uncle Srinivasulu said that Mohan grew suspicious of her parents' intention and thought that they were on the lookout for another bridegroom for her. He rushed to her house on Friday and in a fit of rage threw petrol on Bharati while she was in the kitchen.

He threatened to kill her and commit suicide if she refused to marry him. The petrol on her body came in contact with fire and she suffered severe burn injuries, her uncle said.