By IANS
New Delhi : A 24-year-old call centre employee allegedly set his female colleague on fire in northwest Delhi Friday after she refused his proposal for marriage.
According to the police, the call centre employee, Abhishek Sharma, poured petrol over Mandeep Kaur, 22, and set her afire near Queens Mary School in Model Town area.
After committing the crime, Sharma fled, but Mandeep managed to call the police. She was taken to the Jai Prakash Naryan hospital with 20 percent burn injuries. Her condition is stated to be stable.
“They had been working in the same call centre, Sai Communications in Saraswati Vihar area, for the past three months. During the period they came close to each other and spent a lot of time together.
“Abhishek used to drop her home daily. A few days ago he proposed to her, but she refused. She then reported the matter to his seniors in the office,” said a senior police official.
“Following the complaint, Abhishek was asked to change his behaviour,” the official added.
The police said around 12.30 a.m. the duo left the office, but instead of dropping Mandeep at her house, he took her to Model Town near his house. They then had a heated exchange after which Abhishek set her on fire.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that Abhishek was carrying petrol (in a bottle) in his car. We have registered a case against the accused and a search is on to apprehend him,” the official added.