Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28: In a bizarre incident, a jilted lover threw acid on the girl’s parents and set her house ablaze last night at Piteipur in Bhadrak district. The accused, who later attempted suicide by consuming poison, took this drastic step after his advances were repeatedly spurned by the girl’s parents.

Police have reached the spot on time and arrested the youth. He has been identified as Subhash Tarai (29), who used to run a grocery store. After the incident, an irate mob headed towards the shop and ransacked it.

The girls’ parents, Fakir Tarai and Tilottama Tarai, have been admitted to the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack with severe burn injuries. The girl, however, was lucky to escape without any injury.

“While the girl’s father sustained 10 per cent burns, the mother is in a critical condition with 90 per cent burn injuries. She is battling for her life. We are trying our best. They have to be kept under observation for some time,” said Dinabandhu Moharana, superintendent of S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital.

“He used to stalk and harass her all the time. When the matter got out of hand, some of us approached him. After a heated argument, blows were exchanged. With the intervention of police, he was even sent to jail,” said a local resident of Piteipur.

Last night, Subhash had approached the girl yet again only to face rejection.

Frustrated by the turn of events, he splashed acid on her parents.

Thereafter, he bolted the door from outside and poured kerosene and set the house on fire. Unnerved by his act, he tried to commit suicide by consuming poison.

However, locals who came to douse the flames called the police, which admitted him to Bhadrak district hospital.

“We are investigating into the case. The accused is undergoing treatment at the district hospital. We would interrogate him once he recovers,” said police officer Pradeep Kumar Munda.

Several violent acts related to one-sided love affairs seem to be on rise. Last February, a man killed his girlfriend’s parents when they opposed to their relationship.

A month later, an engineering student was killed by her boyfriend on the campus of the Abhinna Chandra Homeopathy College in the capital.

In October, a 23-year-old man, who was thwarted in love, tried to slit the throat of a girl in the busy Saheed Nagar area.

A few days after this incident, a 56-year-old government employee was murdered after he had objected to a youth’s one-sided affair with his neighbour’s daughter.