NEDUMKANDAM: Police have arrested a man who attacked his wife and hacked his father-in-law to death after breaking into the wife's house following a family dispute. The deceased is Ezhukumvayal native Thomas (Tomy, 62). The arrested person has been identified as Mavadi native Jobin (38), the son-in-law of Thomas. Jobin's wife Tintu, who sustained serious injuries on her neck and hands, is undergoing treatment at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.

Tintu, who got separated from Jobin, had been living with another man. The two have been living with her parents and children in her house. The case regarding divorce was going on in the court. According to the police, Jobin's animosity towards Tintu and her family over the matter resulted in the murder.

On Tuesday night, Jobin reached Tintu's house after getting drunk and created an atmosphere of terror by breaking the window panes. Later, he asked Tintu to open the door. As the family refused to open the door, Jobin poured petrol on the door. Fearing that Jobin would torch up the house, Thomas and Tintu opened the door. Soon, Jobin hacked them with a knife. Thomas died on the spot.

In the meantime, Tintu's partner ran away through the back door of the house. Soon, the police reached the spot and arrested the accused after being informed by the locals. At the time of the murder, Thomas's wife Thangamma and Jobin's kids, Toby and Tolly, were present at the home.