31-year-old youth set ablaze by friends dies after suffering 75 percent burns

PIRAVOM: A 31-year-old man who was allegedly set ablaze by his friends following an argument in Piravom died while undergoing treatment at Kottayam Medical College Hospital on Friday evening.

Arun, son of Prakash and Sushila of Kakkad Puthukunnath, had suffered 75 per cent burns in the incident. He was an employee at a two-wheeler showroom in Piravom.

The incident took place around 1 a.m. on Thursday on Sneha Bhavan Road. Police said Jishnu, 31, allegedly poured petrol on Arun and set him on fire. Jishnu also suffered burns and is undergoing treatment at the medical college hospital under police surveillance.

Three others who were allegedly with Jishnu at the time — Chandan Chandran, 34, Salbarin, 32, and C.G. Dev, 36 — have been remanded in custody.

Arun's post-mortem examination will be conducted on Saturday. He is survived by his sister, Aswathy.