Biraju being brought to the Puthukkad police station.Puthukkad: Police investigating the immolation of a woman on a public road at Chengaloor last week said her husband, who has confessed to the murder, also admitted that he was so determined to kill his wife that he was carrying petrol bombs on the fateful day.
According to the police, the accused, Biraju, who was arrested from Mumbai a couple of days ago after the gruesome daylight murder, has admitted that he brought petrol in three bottles from a fuel station at Chengaloor as he headed to the venue of a Kudumbasree meeting where his wife Jeetu was expected. The fuel was taken in a plastic bottle and two beer bottles. He had connected wicks to the bottles, which the police suspect was for lighting them up so that they act as petrol bombs when hurled at anyone who would have tried to resist him. What could have been a tragedy of bigger dimensions was averted as the two beer bottles filled with the fuel broke in his bag and he abandoned them.
The 40-year-old accused told the cops that he learned the making of petrol bombs watching movies.
The police have recorded his arrest and a court at Irinjalakuda remanded him until May 19. The police team will obtain him in custody on May 8 and would carry out further interrogation and gathering of evidence.
Biraju told the police that Jeetu, 29, had a relationship with a friend and that she was not willing to go for fertility treatment. Besides, she was dishonest in money matters.
Immediate provocation
The police said Biraju and Jeetu had a fight at home on March 25 over her friendship with another man. An agreement was then reached with the knowledge of both families to prepare for a divorce, and the two started living separately. Biraju, meanwhile, got information that Jeetu had taken a loan from the Kudumbasree unit near his house. He also came to know that she was summoned by the self-help group on April 29.
He reached the venue of the Kudumbasree meeting, fully equipped with the petrol bomb. As Jeetu arrived, he went to her and asked if she had paid the Kudumbasree loan. As soon as she confirmed paying it, he poured petrol on her and fled after immolating her.
Biraju told the police that he had initially planned to surrender. He took a country boat to cross over to Nellayi, but on realising the gravity of his crime, fled to Mumbai instead.
The police was not sure who had helped Biraju flee to Palakkad after the crime. Some local organisations had claimed that a few people helped him escape and they have also demanded action against them.
