In a shocking incident of violence, an 18-year-old teen set a young woman on fire in broad daylight on Tuesday morning in Pathanamthitta in Kerala.

The victim, 20-year old Kavitha Vijayakumar, is critical after sustaining 80% burn injuries and currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvalla.

The local police have taken into custody the accused, Ajin Reji Mathew, a resident of Kumbanad. The incident took place around 9.30 am on Tuesday when the victim, a BSc student at the Tata Institute of Medical Sciences, was on her way to college.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim and the stalker were seen having a heated conversation near the Chilanka junction in Thiruvalla around 8.30 am. Following this, the stalker, who had brought with him two bottles of petrol, emptied the fuel on the victim and set her on fire.