One more dead in incident where Thrissur man set son, his family ablaze

Mannuthy: The death toll has risen to four in the incident where a man poured petrol on his son and his family and set them on fire over a property dispute at Chirakkakkode in Madakkathara panchayat over a month ago. Kottekattil Joji's wife Liji (32), who was under treatment at Thrissur Medical College Hospital after she suffered severe burn injuries in the incident, died on Tuesday.

Joji (39) and his son Tendulkar (12) died on the day of the incident. Kottekattil Johnson (68), who consumed poison after committing the crime, died a week after the incident at Thrissur Medical College Hospital, where he was under treatment.

On September 14, around 12.30 am, Johnson locked the trio in their bedroom from outside, poured petrol through the window and set them ablaze following an argument at home. Johnson had also burnt himself during the incident. When the neighbours who noticed fire inside the house rushed to the spot, Johnson fled to the backside of the house. The locals later found him unconscious, lying on the terrace after consuming poison.

Mannuthy police said Johnson had a clear intention to kill his son. Johnson and Joji used to quarrel frequently over the partition of their family property. According to locals, Joji wanted ownership of the ancestral house, as he had given around Rs 10 lakh to his elder brother to build a new house. However, Johnson, who worked as a mason and later security guard at the Kerala Agricultural University on contract, was not ready to hand over the property.

Joji was a heavy vehicle driver, while Liji was working as a temporary employee at the Kerala Agricultural University. Their son Tendulkar was a Class Seven student at the Jeevan Jyothi Public School, Thalikode in Pattikkad.

Johnson’s wife Sarah, who was sleeping in a separate room in the house when the incident took place, got away unhurt.