Man arrested for assaulting wife, setting her on fire in Navaikulam

KALLAMBALAM: The Kallambalam police have arrested a man who went into hiding after allegedly assaulting his wife and setting her on fire by pouring kerosene at Navaikulam. The accused, Binu, a native of Velloorkonam in Navaikulam, was arrested late the other night from a relative’s house in Kollam by a police team led by the Kallambalam SHO.

Binu's wife, Muneeswari, who suffered fractures to her hands and legs and also sustained burn injuries in the attack, has survived the critical stage. She was shifted from Parippally Medical College Hospital to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital for specialised treatment.

The incident took place at around 7.30 am on the 13th of this month. Police said Binu brutally assaulted Muneeswari using a hammer and a wooden stick. After the assault, he locked the door, poured fuel through the gap under the door, set it on fire, and fled on a two-wheeler. Hearing Muneeswari's screams, neighbours rushed to the spot, broke open the door, put out the fire and took her to the hospital.

Police suspect that a family dispute was the reason behind the attack. Locals said similar incidents had occurred earlier as well. The couple has two children. Their daughter is married and lives with her husband, while their son was at school at the time of the attack.

Police and forensic experts inspected the house and found traces of kerosene and petrol. The accused was produced before the court and remanded. Police said he will be taken into custody again for evidence collection and further investigation.