Wife stabbed to death with scissors by paranoiac husband; accused Sanukuttan found hanging

KULATHUPUZHA: The accused who stabbed his wife to death with scissors following a family dispute was found dead. Sanukuttan was found hanging today. The body was found by the police in a forest near his house. Renuka (39), who lived in Manubhavan near Moorthikavu, Kulathupuzha, was killed by her husband last Friday. After the murder, Sanukuttan swam across the nearby Kallada River and escaped into the forest. The body was found while the police were searching for him.

The incident took place around 12 noon on Friday. When Renuka returned from getting medicine for fever from the Kulathupuzha Community Health Center, Sanukuttan got into a fight with her. The fight began when he asked where Renuka had gone. Sanukuttan then stabbed Renuka several times in the neck and stomach with scissors. Renuka's mother Mary was the only one at home at the time of the incident.

Sanukuttan had escaped by the time Renuka's mother and neighbours rushed to the spot after hearing her screams. Renuka, who had sustained a deep neck injury, was immediately rushed to the Kulathupuzha Government Hospital by the locals. After initial treatment, Renuka was taken to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital in an ambulance, but she died when they reached Madathara.

Relatives say that Sanukuttan was paranoiac and addicted to drugs. He was a casual labourer and rarely went to work. There were often fights at home regarding this. The family was taken care of by Renuka, who was a home nurse.