ERODE: A 24-year-old woman was burnt alive in Erode on Wednesday by a man whom she had befriended on a social media platform.The deceased woman has been identified as S Vinodhini, who had been staying with her mother in Bharathi Nagar here after separating from her husband. She developed a friendship with Naveen alias Navaneethakrishnan, 26, of Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district.The Erode taluk police said the two had been in regular contact over the phone for several months. “On Wednesday, Naveen visited Vinodhini’s residence and confronted her over what he claimed was her reduced communication with him,” said a police officer. When the argument escalated, Naveen poured kerosene on Vinodhini and set her on fire. The man, who also suffered burn injuries, managed to flee the scene.Neighbours rushed Vinodhini to Erode Government Hospital where she succumbed to the severe burn injuries she had suffered. Meanwhile, Naveen got himself admitted to Amaravathi Government Hospital in Karur district.The Erode taluk police, who registered a case, had passed on information to their counterparts in neighbouring districts about the chances of the murder suspect, who suffered burn injuries, approaching a hospital. The Karur police, who came to know about Naveen getting admitted to Amaravathi Government Hospital, alerted the Erode taluk police on Thursday. A police team from Erode wet to Karur and arrested him. “He will be brought to Erode after his treatment is over,” the officer said.
