Thamarassery, Kozhikode: The 52-year-old owner of a finance firm who was grievously burnt in a murder bid at Puthupaddy passed away at the Kozhikode Medical College on Saturday morning.
The deceased is PT Kuruvila, alias Saji, the owner of Malabar Financiers located at Kaithapoyil town, near Thamarassery, in Kozhikode district.
Kuruvila, a resident of Olavangara, was attacked on Friday afternoon by an unidentified youth at his firm. The latter first sprinkled chilli powder on Kuruvila's face and then doused him with petrol before setting him on fire. Kuruvila was alone at his office when he was targeted.
In panic, the burning man jumped from the first floor, where his office is. Kuruvila fell initially on to the roof of a few shops down and rolled down to the ground. Locals and nearby merchants gathered at the spot and soon put out the fire. Thamarassery police and fire force arrived at the spot.
The assailant had fled from the rear of the building immediately after the crime.
Kuruvila has stated that a man in red shirt had attacked him. He indicated that the assailant could be the very same person who was sent back by him a day earlier from his office after he couldn't pawn enough gold for the amount he wanted to borrow. Kuruvila had even shot the youth on his mobile on noticing his suspicious conduct.
Meanwhile, police let off a man who was taken into custody after Kuruvila confirmed that he was not his assailant. He was brought to the hospital so that the deceased could confirm his identity.
