A man has been arrested by the Tulinj police for trying to kill his live-in partner by setting her on fire after emptying a gallon of kerosene on her. The incident took place on Monday evening. Anisha Panchal, 37, who is battling for life with more than 70 per cent burns at Sir JJ Hospital, is a nurse by profession in Nalasopara.  Police said her partner Santosh Panchal is an autorickshaw driver and befriended her before lockdown.

“The duo started to live together before the lockdown in Nalasopara East. We have learnt that the accused would often pick fights with the woman. After a heated argument on Monday evening, he locked the house, poured kerosene on her and set her afire,” said Shailendra Nagarkar, senior inspector of Tulinj police station. Ajit Singh, a neighbour, said, “We noticed flames in the balcony. One of Anisha’s kids jumped from the flat but a neighbour caught him before he hit the ground,” said. “We immediately wrapped the woman in a blanket to douse the fire,” Singh added.