50-year-old Sheeja's suicide due to male friend's relationship with another woman; set herself on fire at banana grove near Sajikumar's house

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have ruled that the incident in which a 50-year-old woman's body was found burnt in a vacant banana grove in Kaimanam is a suicide. The deceased was Sheeja, a native of Karumam. Police said that the suicide was due to problems that had been going on between her and her friend Sajikumar for days. The two had been having problems over Sajikumar's relationship with another woman. Police investigation revealed that it was due to this that Sheeja poured petrol on herself after reaching the plot near Sajikumar's house the other day and set herself on fire.

The incident took place at around 10.10 pm on Thursday at a vacant lot in Kuttikadu Lane on the Karamana - Kaliyikavila road. Hearing screams, the neighbours checked and saw a person burning in the banana grove. Although the locals reached the spot, they could not save Sheeja. They then informed the police. A police team led by Fort AC A Prasad reached the spot and took action. The deceased was identified as Sheeja by yesterday morning.

Saji Kumar was taken into custody by the police after the family alleged that there was a mystery surrounding Sheeja's death. Sheeja and Saji had lived together for some time. Sheeja's house is about two kilometers away from the scene of the incident. Sheeja's sister Sheeba had told the police that Sheeja would not come here alone at night and that Saji had summoned her by threatening her and killed her. Sheeja was a sales girl at a textile company in Ulloor. The sister stated that Sheeja had been living in a hostel near the textile company for three years due to Saji's threats.