Kottayam: Ashokan (55), owner of Kannattu Jewellery near Ramapuram bus station in Pala, died after being set on fire by a man with whom he had a financial dispute. He succumbed to his burns while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Pala on Sunday morning. He had sustained 80 per cent burns in the attack by Thulasi Das (59).

According to the police, Das arrived at Ashokan’s jewellery shop around 10 am on Saturday and set him on fire after dousing him with petrol. It is believed that a financial dispute led to the crime. After setting Ashokan ablaze, Das fled the scene but surrendered to the police within an hour. A local court has remanded him in judicial custody.

Ashokan was allegedly supposed to pay Thulasi Das a sum of money. Reports state that a case filed by Das against Ashokan is currently under consideration in a local court. The accused, a building contractor, was running a shop in the same building where Ashokan’s jewellery store operated. According to sources, Das had constructed the building, and Ashokan had reportedly failed to settle the construction payment.