Questioned Kochi native for stealing 750 rupees; POCSO case accused pours petrol on Joseph Mathai and sets him on fire

KOCHI: A Kochi native tried to set a man on fire for questioning him about stealing Rs 750 from his pocket. Antony (Antappan 52) was arrested by the Kadavanthra police for attempted murder. Piravom native Joseph Mathai (56), who suffered 45 percent burns, is undergoing treatment at Kalamassery Medical College. The incident took place at around 1 am on Sunday night near Kadavanthra junction.

Antony and Joseph have been working as scrap collectors and wage labourers in Kochi city for years. Joseph had questioned Antony about stealing money from his pocket on Saturday. Antony arrived with vengeance in mind the next day and poured petrol on Joseph's back while he was sleeping. Antony set Joseph on fire when he was trying to get up, thinking that water had fallen on his body. Joseph extinguished the fire himself and went to the nearby Kadavanthra police station to seek help. The police took him to Ernakulam General Hospital, gave him first aid and then shifted him to Kalamassery Medical College. Joseph informed the police on the way to the hospital that Antony had attacked him.

The accused was arrested at 8 am on Monday. Antony had arrived at a lodge in the city, taken a bath and was preparing to escape. Police said the accused revealed that he had attacked Joseph out of anger over being questioned about the money he had taken. Antony used petrol he had bought from a petrol pump in Elamkulam a month ago for work purposes for the attack. He is an accused in cases including POCSO at Palluruthy station.