AMBALAPUZHA: Husband set fire to the house and absconded after wife questioned his drinking and liquor sales. The house was completely burnt down. The adjacent shed and the fishing equipment stored in the shed were also gutted and the gas cylinder in the house exploded.

Puthuval Vijayan of Ward 18 Purakkad Panchayat, was the one who set fire to the house with kerosene. Vijayan, who was caught by the police for selling illegal liquor, was released 3 days back after his remand period was over. Last night his wife had a fight with him over him selling liquor. The wife and two children were taken to their place in Punnapra by her brother that night itself and by midnight the house was set on fire. Relatives say that it was Vijayan who poured kerosene on the house and set it on fire.

The house, including the household furniture and other documents including the children's study materials, was completely gutted. 4 boats, nets, and other equipment kept in the shed were burnt. Initially, the locals tried to put out the fire but were unsuccessful. Later, the fire force team that came from Thakazhi extinguished the fire after more than two hours of effort.