Jilted lover sets woman,girl ablaze

The police said Koli killed the girl since she was an eyewitness to the crime. The police are investigating if there were any other eyewitnesses to the incident that took place in the early hours in an area that has many diamond polishing units.

According to the complaint registered on the basis of the statement by Parmar,Koli,a 35-year-old diamond polisher,lives in the house opposite to that of the victims’ in Maldhari Society in Kumudvadi.

Koli had allegedly been pursuing Parmar,who lives with her husband and three-year-old son,for a relationship,which she had turned down a few times in the past.

The police said that around 6 am on Monday,both Parmar and Mer were on their way to a dairy nearby to get milk when Koli came and proposed Parmar. When she refused,Koli doused her in kerosene,and set her ablaze.

The police said,when Mer tried to run away,Koli chased her down and set her ablaze after pouring kerosene. People from the neighbourhood rushed to the spot hearing their screams. Both were rushed to the hospital by their families.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Koli was riding a bike,which he abandoned on the spot and fled,” said the police,adding that he hails from Parvadi village in Bhavnagar district and shifted to Maldhari Society three months ago. Parmar has reportedly told the police that Koli is unmarried.