In a horrific incident, a law student was set on fire by her estranged lover at Kajamalai here late on Monday evening.

Police said the victim S Ramya (23), who is pursuing undergraduate law degree at Government Law College here, suffered more than 40 per cent burns and was undergoing treatment at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Headquarters hospital.

The accused G Thavaselvan (27) and Ramya were in love, but the girl discontinued her love affair owing to stiff opposition from her family.

Dejected over this, Thavaselvan went to the house, where Ramya was staying with her collegemates and indulged in an heated argument. As Ramya was firm on her stand, Thavaselvan poured petrol on Ramya and set her on fire. K K Nagar police have registered a case and are searching for Thavaselvan.