Mysuru student sets himself ablaze after rejection, woman sustains 20% burns
Synopsis
A diploma student in Mysuru allegedly doused himself in petrol and embraced a woman who had refused his advances, leaving her with 20% burns and himself battling for life with 80% burns. The attack near Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering is part of a disturbing pattern of violent retaliation against women who reject unwanted relationships.
Key Takeaways
Chandan , a diploma engineering student from Alagodu village, Mandya district , allegedly poured petrol over himself and embraced a young woman near Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru on 29 September 2026 .
The woman sustained burns on approximately 20 per cent of her body; Chandan is battling for his life with around 80 per cent burns.
Chandan is being treated at K.R.
Hospital, Mysuru ; the woman is at a private hospital in the city.
The woman, supported by her parents, filed a complaint at Vijayanagar Police Station ; an investigation is underway.
Preliminary probe indicates Chandan had been persistently pursuing the woman and repeatedly ignored her rejections before carrying out the attack.
A man identified as Chandan, a diploma engineering student from Alagodu village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district, allegedly doused himself with petrol and forcibly embraced a young woman near Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering in Mysuru on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, after she refused his repeated romantic overtures. The woman, who is from the same village, sustained burns on approximately 20 per cent of her body, while Chandan is reportedly battling for his life with around 80 per cent burns.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to preliminary investigation, the woman was walking from her hostel in Vijayanagar to her college when Chandan intercepted her a short distance away. He allegedly poured petrol over himself and then forcibly embraced her, putting her life in immediate danger. Sensing the threat, the woman managed to break free and flee, sustaining burns due to the intensity of the fire. Police personnel and bystanders intervened and brought the situation under control.
Chandan was rushed to K.R. Hospital in Mysuru, where he is currently receiving treatment for severe burn injuries. The woman is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city.
Background: Repeated Rejection and Pursuit
Preliminary investigations by police revealed that Chandan had been persistently pursuing the woman and had been pressing for a relationship despite her repeated refusals. Both individuals are residents of the same village, and Chandan had been residing at a hostel in Vijayanagar while pursuing his diploma. Investigators are piecing together the precise sequence of events and examining how the woman sustained her injuries.
Police Action and Complaint Filed
The woman, accompanied by her parents, lodged a formal complaint at Vijayanagar Police Station in Mysuru. Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway into the circumstances preceding the attack. Authorities are examining the sequence of events leading up to the incident and the nature of the accused's conduct in the days before it occurred.
Broader Context: Violence Over Rejection
This incident is the latest in a pattern of attacks in Karnataka and across India where women have been targeted after refusing romantic advances — a form of gender-based violence that rights groups and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged as deeply concerning. Notably, such cases often involve prolonged harassment before the act of violence, raising questions about the adequacy of preventive mechanisms on campuses and in hostels.
As both individuals remain hospitalised, police are expected to file formal charges once the investigation is complete and medical reports are available.
Point of View
Not impulse. Framing such incidents as 'love gone wrong' risks obscuring what investigators and rights groups increasingly categorise as targeted gender-based violence. Karnataka's law enforcement and campus administrations must revisit their protocols for handling harassment complaints before they escalate — because by the time a woman reports burns, the warning signs have already been missed.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened near Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering in Mysuru?
A man named Chandan allegedly poured petrol over himself and forcibly embraced a young woman near Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering in Mysuru on 29 September 2026, after she rejected his romantic proposal. The woman sustained approximately 20 per cent burns and Chandan is battling for life with around 80 per cent burns.
Who is Chandan and what is his connection to the victim?
Chandan is a resident of Alagodu village in Malavalli taluk, Mandya district, and was pursuing a diploma in engineering while staying at a hostel in Vijayanagar, Mysuru. Both he and the woman are from the same village, and according to police, he had been persistently pursuing her despite repeated rejections.
Where are the two individuals being treated?
Chandan was shifted to K.R. Hospital in Mysuru, where he is undergoing treatment for approximately 80 per cent burn injuries. The woman is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Mysuru for burns covering around 20 per cent of her body.
Has a police complaint been filed in the Mysuru case?
Yes. The woman, accompanied by her parents, lodged a formal complaint at Vijayanagar Police Station in Mysuru. Police have confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances of the incident is currently underway.
Is this type of attack common in Karnataka?
Incidents of violence against women following rejection of romantic advances have been reported repeatedly across Karnataka and India, and rights groups have flagged them as a form of gender-based violence. Investigators in this case are examining whether there were prior harassment episodes before the attack occurred.
