CHENNAI: A man who poured petrol on a woman employee of Ponneri Government Hospital and set her ablaze on Monday night was shot in the leg by police on Tuesday morning. He was apprehended when he attacked a sub-inspector with a sickle and tried to escape. The woman employee, who had suffered about 50% burns, is stable in hospital.The accused, identified as Prakash, 35, of Madhavaram, was traced to a spot near a cremation ground after special police teams launched a search for him. When police moved in to apprehend him, he attacked Ponneri sub-inspector Tamilarasan with a sickle. Following the attack, Ponneri inspector Sivakumar opened fire, shooting Prakash in the leg and took him into custody.Prakash was given first aid at Ponneri Government Hospital and later shifted to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai. Tamilarasan is undergoing treatment at the Ponneri hospital.Prakash poured petrol on the hospital employee Rajeshwari when she was leaving the hospital at 7.30pm on Monday. She ran towards the emergency ward, but he followed her, lit a match and set her ablaze before fleeing. Hospital employees rushed to her rescue and put out the flames.Rajeswari, who suffered about 50% burns on the face, chest, hands and legs, was given first aid before being shifted to Kilpauk Government Medical College and Hospital in Chennai for further treatment. Police formed special teams and identified Prakash during the investigation.A preliminary investigation revealed that Prakash met Rajeshwari while his wife was undergoing treatment at the hospital. Police said the two eventually got into a relationship and continued to remain in contact after his wife’s death three months ago.Police suspect Prakash attacked Rajeshwari after she recently ended the relationship and stopped communicating with him.
