17-Year-Old Girl Set Ablaze by Ex-Boyfriend in Andhra Pradesh, India, Fighting for Life

A 17-year-old girl is fighting for her life after being set on fire by her ex-boyfriend, Indian authorities confirmed on Saturday. The heinous act, suspected to have followed an altercation, left the girl with life-threatening burn injuries.

The crime occurred near Badvel town in Kadapa district. The accused, identified as Vignesh, had been a childhood friend of the victim. Despite having recently married another woman, Vignesh reportedly sought to maintain a relationship with the 17-year-old. After threatening to end his life if she refused to meet him, the victim agreed to see him after leaving college. Vignesh joined her during her autorickshaw journey.

The pair traveled to a secluded area near the Century Plywood factory, where the attack took place. While the details of their conversation are unclear, Vignesh allegedly doused the girl in petrol and set her on fire. Hearing her cries, nearby farmers rushed to her aid, extinguishing the flames, but the accused managed to flee the scene. The locals alerted the police, and the girl was quickly taken to a hospital in Badvel before being transferred to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Kadapa.

Medical staff have reported that the victim sustained burns to 80% of her body and remains in critical condition. A district judge recorded her statement at the hospital, which will aid in the ongoing investigation.

Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan stated that four special teams have been mobilized to track down the accused. Initial investigations reveal that both the victim and Vignesh were residents of the same area and had known each other for years.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrator and has stressed that the victim receive the best possible medical care. He remains in close contact with authorities regarding her condition.

This appalling act of violence has left the community in shock, raising awareness of the dangers of coercive relationships and domestic abuse.