Chennai: On May 27, a woman was set ablaze by her live-in-partner at Korattur. She died in Government Kilpauk Hospital in the morning of May 28. Police has arrested Soundararajan (42), who worked as a land broker, and is a resident of Bajanai Koil Street, Padi.

The deceased has been identified as 39-year-old Devi. According to police, both Devi and Soundararajan were married to other people but left them to live together.

Soundararajan was an alcoholic and he had been suspicious of Devi cheating on him. On the night of May 27, he came home drunk and poured kerosene on Devi and set her on fire.

Neighbours heard Devi’s cries and rushed her to Government Kilpauk Hospital where she succumbed to burns. A case was then registered which led to the arrest of Soundararajan.

In a similar incident, a family feud led to a 70-year-old farmer burning his 65-year-old wife to death in Channapura village, near Doddaballapura, in the early hours on May 18. After dousing his sleeping wife Lakshmamma in kerosene and setting her on fire, Narayanappa fled from their house and later killed himself by consuming poison.

The incident occurred at about 1 am on the day when Narayanappa entered his house and set Lakshmamma on fire. She died on the spot, before her daughter and her daughter-in-law, who were asleep in another room, could even try to help her.

Trouble had started brewing between Narayanappa and his wife a year ago, when he sold his 32 guntas land without keeping his wife and children informed. Lakshmamma’s son and daughter supported their mother and filed a civil suit against Narayanappa and the property sale.