MALAYINKEEZHU: A man has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife by kicking and hitting her on the head after a family quarrel. The arrested Prashanth (34), of Prashanth Bhavan in Melamcode, was living with his wife Vidya (30) on rent in 'Ashritha' in Kundamankadavu's Shankaran Nair Road. The incident took place on June 22 at 7.30 pm.

Vidya was lying in the toilet when her father Gopan rushed to the house after knowing about the incident. She was later taken to a private hospital but died. Prashanth told the police that Vidya had injured her head after falling in the toilet. But on Gopan's complaint, the police registered a case of unnatural death. Then when Prashant was interrogated, he admitted that he had killed his wife by kicking in the stomach and banging her head against the wall.

Prasanth and his family rented the second floor of the house in Kundamankadavu a month and a half ago. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the abdomen and head. Prashant fell in love with Vidya, of Kizhakkethil House in Karumam in Nemom, and married her 10 years back. Gopan said that there are four cases against Prashanth and a complaint has been lodged at Poojappura station for harassing his daughter. There are allegations that Prashant is a regular alcoholic and drug addict. Rakshak and Diksha are children.