A 14-year-old girl from the Sirumadurai village near Thiruvennainallur in Villupuram district was set ablaze on Sunday by two men belonging to the AIADMK party after the girl allegedly refused to open her father's shop despite the men's insistence. She passed away on Monday morning.

The accused, identified as G Murugan (52) and K Kaliyaperumal (60), visited the house of Jayabal, who owns a store in the locality. Jayabal's daughter Jayasree (14) answered the door as Jayabal was not in the house and refused to open the shop without her father's permission. Murugan, who was in an inebriated state, left the house and came back with Kaliyaperumal to set the girl ablaze. "Hours later, there was smoke coming out from the house. When the neighbours rushed to check out the source, they saw Jayasree, with both her hands tied, ablaze. They immediately poured water and rushed her to the Villupuram Medical College Hospital for treatment," a police officer reportedly stated. Murugan and Jayabal have apparently had a longstanding feud over a property dispute. "Seven years ago, Murugan and his group of friends had chopped off Jayabal’s uncle's arm and they were all arrested. They came out on bail. Murugan and Jayabal are relatives. There is also a land-related tussle between the two groups," a report mentioned. Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami has condemned the act of the two men and further announced Rs 5 lakh relief to family of the girl.

The accused men have been arrested and a case has been registered under sections 302 (Murder), 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement), 294b (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), and 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the IPC.