Abusive man throws acid on wife, injures daughter, 10-year-old niece in Kasaragod

Kasaragod: A man long known in his village for drunken assaults at home hurled acid at his estranged wife, who had moved in with her brother. But the Onam day attack left his 17-year-old daughter and 10-year-old niece injured.

The incident took place on Friday at Parakadav in Kasaragod's Panathady panchayat, on the border with Karnataka’s Kodagu district.

Rajapuram police identified the accused as Manoj K C (48), a rubber tapper and landed farmer from Anappara in Kodagu's Karike panchayat, about a kilometre from Parakadav, and separated by a stream. Police said they had parked their jeep on the Kerala side and crossed over on foot to search for him. "We have been in his village since 5 am," said an officer.

Ninnu Mol K M (17), daughter of Manoj and Divya, sustained burns on her arms and thighs, while Manya M (10), daughter of Divya's brother Mohanan, suffered burns on her face and arms.

"His target was his wife. But as the children were near her, it fell on them," said social worker Aji Joseph.

Divya's mother also suffered burns on her arms while shielding the children. The grandmother quickly washed them with water, which helped prevent deeper injuries. The children are back home after receiving first-aid from the Government Taluk Hospital at Poodamkallu in Panathady panchayat, said ward member Soumya Mol P K.

Karike panchayat in Kodagu has a sizable Malayali settler population, and people depend on Kasaragod's Panathady for groceries and healthcare. Even their milk society is at Panathur in Panathady panchayat. Power supply also comes from KSEB. The dependence on Kerala is greater because residents must travel 15 km through the reserve forest to reach Bhagamandala, the nearest Karnataka town.

Social worker Aji Joseph said Manoj and Divya are both Malayalis but from different religions. "They had a love marriage, but he always assaults and abuses her," he said. For the past year, she had been living with her brother Mohanan, said member Soumya Mol.

Hours before the acid attack, around 5 am, Manoj came to Mohanan's house, poured petrol on Divya's scooter parked outside the house, and tried to set it ablaze. "When the family raised an alarm and he fled," said Aji Joseph. Around 10.30 am, he returned with acid.

Rajapuram police have booked Manoj under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal trespass of house [Section 329 (3)], causing hurt using acid [Section 124 (1)], attempt to murder [Section 109 (1)] and criminal intimidation [Section 351(2)]. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.