Two youth were set on fire allegedly by a history-sheeter with whom they had quarrelled at Nemili in Ranipet district on Thursday.

Surya, alias Tamizharasan, 22, and Vijay Ganapathy, 25, suffered 60% and 25% burns respectively. They were initially admitted to a hospital in Kancheepuram and later, one of them was referred to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Treatment was under way.

The police arrested Prem Kumar, 25. According to police sources, on Wednesday, Kumar and his friends were travelling to Nemili village on a two-wheeler. When Tamizharasan and Vijay scolded Kumar for speeding, a quarrel ensued between them.

The next day, when Tamizharasan and Vijay were returning home after playing cricket, Kumar and his friends intercepted the duo and quarrelled with them again. The duo was carrying a bottle of petrol with them to refuel their bike. As the quarrel turned intense, Kumar snatched the bottle from them. In the melee, some petrol splattered on the duo. At this point, Kumar lit a cigarette and set them on fire.

A senior police official has ruled out previous enmity between the duo and Kumar. The police have also dismissed a caste angle to the crime.

On Thursday late hours, the villagers staged a protest demanding immediate action against the accused. Kumar was booked under Sections 296 (b) (Uttering obscene words), 115 (2) (Voluntarily causing hurt), 109 (Attempt to murder), and 351 (2) (Criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

There is a limit to PMK’s patience: Anbumani

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday visited the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital to check on the youth, who is affiliated to his party, being treated for burns.

“Whoever committed this act, including Prem Kumar, either belong to the VCK or are supporters of the party. This is not an incident that happened spontaneously. Several incidents have taken place in this region before,” Dr. Anbumani told journalists.

He cited drug addiction among youth for such crimes, and contended that his party members were being subjected to assault. “If the PMK was to act the way it did in the past, it would result in violence. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin must ensure that such incidents do not recur…,” he added.

Stressing that there was a limit to the PMK’s patience, he said: “Just because a party is in an alliance with the ruling DMK, it cannot do anything it wants.”