Village assistant torched federal bank office; lost all money to online rummy

THRISSUR: A debt-filled life has forced Thekkumkara village assistant Lijo to adopt heinous ways of revenge. The loans from the bank spiraled into a humongous amount including interest. Not finding a way out of the muddle, Lijo decided to do the unthinkable—Burn the bank.

Lijo(36) was arrested yesterday for putting fire to a federal bank branch. Puthuruthy native Lijo reached the federal bank office with a can of petrol shocking the employees. He curtly informed all the employees of the incoming danger and asked no one to fear. Lijo then started pouring petrol inside the bank and even drenched himself in the inflammable liquid. Bank assistant manager K Anand tried to stop Lijo but also got troubled himself with petrol.

There were a total of five employees in the bank including two female officers. The security guards tried to stop Lijo but he managed to wiggle out from their hands after putting fire. Lijo ran straight towards Kuttiyankavu region where he was ambushed by locals. They later handed him over to the police.

While questioning, Lijo opened up about the large pile of debt affecting his personal life. He admitted the attempt to fire the bank as an instantaneous one bereft of any planning. Lijo is also addicted to online rummy and has lost a large chunk of cash to it. He took a loan of four lakhs from the federal bank but failed to repay it adding to the worries.