Daily wage labourer arrested for acid attack on estranged wife, her nephew in Kasaragod

Kasaragod:  A 59-year-old daily wage labourer has been arrested for attacking his estranged wife with acid in the Bedakam police station limits on Tuesday evening. The woman’s nephew, who rushed to the spot after being alerted, also suffered injuries. The couple’s daughter, in her twenties, escaped by locking herself inside the house.

The incident occurred around 6.30 pm at Champakkad near Munnad in Bedakam panchayat.

The accused, Raveendran, has been taken to the court now, said Bedakam Station House Officer T Damodaran. He has been booked under Section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, and Section 109 of the BNS for attempt to murder, the officer said.

The couple had been living separately for the past nine months. On Tuesday evening, Raveendran came to Janaki’s house and attacked her from behind while she was cleaning fish. Hearing her mother’s screams, their daughter Ajitha came out of the house. When Raveendran moved towards her with acid, she ran back inside and locked the door. He attempted to force the door open but failed.

Janaki's nephew Suresh Babu (36), an autorickshaw driver, also suffered minor injuries when he reached the home after being told about the acid attack. Janaki sustained severe burns on her body and hands and has been admitted to the E K Nayanar Memorial Hospital, Cherkala. 

Police said Suresh Babu, along with his mother and brother, arrived at the house in a car when Raveendran allegedly threw acid at them as well. The occupants escaped after quickly rolling up the windows. Raveendran’s sister, who was in the courtyard at the time, was not injured. Police said the accused also attempted to confront residents who gathered after hearing the commotion.