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CUDDALORE: Police on Friday arrested a bus conductor on charges of attempting to murder a 25-year-old married woman by dousing her body with petrol and setting her ablaze after she turned down his proposal at Vadalur in Cuddalore district. Police said the victim, a mother of two girls, has been working in a private firm after completing her nursing degree at Vadalur. Her husband, an Army jawan, is presently posted in West Bengal.

The woman used to travel in a private bus to reach her office every day. The conductor, identified as R Sundaramoorthy, befriended her and they used to chat during the journey. Police said when the conductor professed his love for her, she stopped talking to him three months ago.

After efforts to woo the woman failed, he decided to take revenge on her. He came to her office on Friday morning with a bottle of petrol. He invited her for a brief discussion and when she came out of her office, the man doused her with petrol and set her ablaze.

The woman suffered burns on the head, left upper limb and left thigh. When she screamed for help, her colleagues and passersby caught the man and handed him over to the Vadalur police.

Police registered a case against him under Section 294 B (obscene acts and songs), 354 (T) (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian penal code and arrested him.

The woman was administered first aid at Kurinjipadi government hospital was later referred to Cuddalore government general hospital. The doctors treating her said she had sustained 20% burn injuries.

