Oyoor, Kollam: Even while battling for life at the hospital, Asha told her parents, "I was not knocked down by a goat." The 29-year-old woman, who was grievously injured after her husband kicked her in the stomach, said this during her final hours.

Asha, a native of Karikkom in Kollam, died at the Medical College Hospital at Meeyannoor in the district on November 4. She is the daughter of Karikkom natives George and Shobha. Her husband had told the relatives that she was injured after the goat knocked her down while she took it out for grazing.

Haunted by their daughter’s last words, Asha's parents refused to believe his statements. An investigation was held after a complaint was lodged with the police. And her husband Arun, 36, of Odanavattom, was arrested.

According to the police, Arun who came home drunk on October 31 picked up a fight with Asha. He kicked her in the stomach and Asha fell unconscious. She was first taken to the Kottarakkara taluk hospital on November 2 and then to the Kollam district hospital. After her health deteriorated, she was shifted to the Medical College Hospital. She died while under treatment at the hospital.

Even at the hospital, Arun reiterated that his wife had fallen off from the rock near their house after the goat hit her.

However, the police, who questioned their two children and Arun's mother, found discrepancies in their statements.  Subsequently, a post-mortem was held. The police deduced that if she had fallen from the top of the rocks, she would have sustained wounds all over the body. The post-mortem found seven wounds on Asha's body. Most of these wounds had dried up. The doctors confirmed that she died because she was kicked in the stomach.

Rural SP Ilango led the team of probe officers, including DySP M A Naseer.