Bangalore :   Ravikala, a 28-year-old woman working as housekeeping staff at M S Ramaiah Hospital here, was chased and burnt alive by her neighbours on Thursday night in the presence of a crowd in Soladevanahalli. Four neighbours who burnt her alive are absconding. Police have formed special team to nab them.

Ravikala, a resident of Doddabele, lived with her husband Narasimha Murthy, a car driver and her two sons, Prajwal, 11 and Nitin, 7. Behind her house stayed her neighbour Munithayamma and her three children, Manjunath, Murali and Rupa.

Police said, quarrel erupted after Ravikala tied a rope to dry clothes  on the small lane dividing the two houses, blocking the entry to Munithayamma’s house.

On Thursday evening, Munithayamma had a quarrel with Ravikala, and asked her to remove the rope, but she refused. A large crowd collected, and then Munithayamma asked her three children to beat Ravikala.

Munithayamma and her children poured kerosene on Ravikala and set her ablaze. Her brother Ravi Kumar who had come to her rescue was also beaten brutally. Ravikala died on way to hospital.

Sandeep Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) said, the four absconders will soon be arrested.