Tangled past and burning obsession: How Bengaluru man burned former partner alive; crowd watched as horror unfolded

NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old woman has died in Bengaluru after her former live-in partner allegedly set her on fire in broad daylight, police said. The victim, identified as Vanajakshi, succumbed to burn injuries on Sunday night, a day after she was attacked on a busy street in the city’s Hulimavu area. Her former partner, 52-year-old Vittal, has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Police said the incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon when Vanajakshi was travelling with a male companion, Muniyappa, to St John’s Hospital to visit her nephew. As their car slowed in traffic near Hommadevanahalli, Vittal, who had been following them, confronted the pair. According to the complaint, Vittal stepped out of his vehicle and poured petrol on Muniyappa’s car. Alarmed, Muniyappa told Vanajakshi to get out and run. But as she tried to escape, she stumbled. Vittal then doused her with petrol and ignited it with a lighter. Eyewitnesses attempted to intervene — one passer-by tried to snatch the can of petrol — but could not prevent the attack. Two people suffered burn injuries while trying to rescue her. Before being rushed to hospital, Vanajakshi reportedly identified her attacker and alleged that he had been harassing her for companionship. She was admitted first to Victoria Hospital and later shifted to St John’s Hospital, where she died. Police investigations suggest a tangled personal history. Vanajakshi had earlier been married to a man named Madhu, who was much older than her. Following his death, she entered into a live-in relationship with Vittal. In recent years, she had become close to Muniyappa, a businessman. A senior officer said police are probing the nature of her relationships with all three men, but described Vittal’s actions as being driven by “obsession and anger” over her companionship with someone else. The incident has shocked local residents, many of whom witnessed the attack unfold in traffic.