Kozhikode: An Ernakulam native has been arrested for allegedly setting afire the owner of a finance firm here on Saturday. The man succumbed to the burns at the Kozhikode Medical College on Saturday morning.
Sumesh Kumar, a plumber, has reportedly confessed to the murder and revealed to the police that the motive behind crime was robbery.
Sumesh had first approached Kuruvila seeking a loan of Rs 2 lakh on July 6. The financier had shot the youth's photos on his mobile phone after he sensed his conduct was suspicious. The photos proved valuable in tracing the accused.
The crime happened after Sumesh went to Kuruvila's office again on July 13, this time with a can of petrol. He told Kuruvila that his wife would come soon with the gold to be pawned. Kuruvila had asked him to keep the fuel outside and went to the washroom. When he returned, Sumesh doused Kuruvila 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.
