Woman set ablaze by son-in-law succumbs to injuries

CHERUTHONI: A woman who was under treatment for burns, after her son-in-law poured petrol on her and set her on fire following a family quarrel, has died. The deceased has been identified as Annakutty Thambi (59) of Kochumala in Painavu in Idukki.

Annakutty, who was on ventilator at Kottayam Medical College Hospital, died on Friday morning. The incident took place on June 5 at 3.30 pm. Her daughter's husband Santhosh (48) hailing from Nirappel in Idukki's Kanjikuzhi poured petrol on the bodies of Annakutty and son Lins' two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Liyah and set them on fire. The accused Santhosh had admitted to the police that the reason for the violence was that Annakutty's daughter Princy had gone to work abroad without his permission. At the time of the incident, everyone was in the hospital in Kottayam, so a major disaster was avoided. Santhosh, who tried to cross into Tamil Nadu after setting fire to his house, was caught by the Idukki police from Bodimettu check post. The accused was remanded by the court and taken into custody for 5 days by the Idukki police for evidence collection.

The accused has told the police that he set the fire both times with the intention of killing. The police have registered a case of murder against the accused Santhosh, who is in judicial custody. Earlier, a case was registered for attempted murder and destruction of evidence.