Pathanamthitta: The accused in the Thiruvalla Kavitha murder case has been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. The court sentenced Ajin Reji Mathew, a native of Kumbanad. The court had found Ajin guilty in the case a day earlier.

On March 12, 2019, Ajin Reji Mathew murdered Kavitha (19), a native of Kaviyoor, by setting her on fire in Thiruvalla town. The reason for the murder was that the girl had rejected his love proposal. The incident took place on a side road near the KSRTC bus stand in Thiruvalla.

Kavitha and the accused had studied together in higher secondary classes. After this, Kavitha joined an MLT course at a private institution in Thiruvalla. On the morning of the incident, Ajin Reji Mathew attacked Kavitha while she was on her way to class. Prior to this, the accused had bought petrol in three bottles from a petrol pump in Thiruvalla. He approached Kavitha from behind as she was walking, first stabbed and injured her with a knife, and then poured the petrol he was carrying on her body and set her on fire. Kavitha, who was critically injured, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ernakulam.