KOLLAM: A 56-year-old woman was burnt alive by a man for refusing his marriage proposal with her daughter. The fire also killed the man during a physical duel with the woman. The deceased has been identified as Getty Rajan (57), of Ruby Nivas in Kavanadu and Selvamani (37), son of late Pathrose from Thrikkadavoor Mathil.

The incident was in the early hours of Sunday at around 2.15 am. Selvamani had put forward a proposal to marry Getty's younger daughter Asha. Getty refused this and out of rage Selvamani went to the woman's residence with two cans of petrol. He set the windows and doors on fire. Members of the house woke up on hearing the noise and Getty tried to escape through the back door. Selvamani was waiting for her at the back door and drenched her with petrol. A physical altercation followed as petrol fell on Selvamani's body as well. Selvamani set Getty on fire and the fire caught him as well.

On hearing loud screams, neighbours informed the police. The police on reaching the spot rushed Getty and her elder daughter Ruby, who has minor burns, to the hospital. While recording the statement of Ruby at the hospital, the police came to know that Selvamani also suffered burns. Selvamani, who had suffered 90 percentage burns by then, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Selvamani succumbed to his burns at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and Getty died at a private hospital in the city. Ruby was discharged after giving first aid. At the time of the incident, Asha, her children, Ruby, her husband, and their children were also inside the house.

Both Asha and Selvamani had estranged from their husband and wife and were living separately. Selvamani came to the house in Kadavoor with five litres of petrol. As per the police's assumption, he bought the petrol two days back. The neighbours said Selvamani had screamed that he will also burn Asha to death. Mary Selvarani is Selvamani's mother. He has two siblings-Manuel and Immanuel (late). Getty's husband is now abroad after retiring from the army.