NA Ajaz, a civil police officer and the accused in a murder case that had shocked the state of Kerala, succumbed to his burn injuries on Wednesday.
Ajaz, had stabbed his counterpart Soumya Pushkaran and poured petrol on her in broad daylight on Saturday. Soumya had died on the spot.
Before setting her on fire, Ajaz had poured petrol on himself and according to the investigating officer his intention was to kill himself as well.
Ajaza had sustained above forty per cent of burns and his condition had been critical ever since. He succumbed to his hnjuries around 6 pm at the Government Medical College Vandanam in Alappuzha.
The 33-year old is a native of Kakkanad in Kochi and was a Civil Police Officer at the traffic unit in Aluva. His relatives were by his side at the time of the death, Vallikunnam police told TNM.
Soumya, a Civil Police Officer at Vallikunnam police station in Alappuzha, and Ajaz were friends.
34-year old Soumya is married and the mother of three children. Her husband Sajeev is working abroad. She and her children were staying at the house in Vallikunnam.
Ajaz attacked Soumya near her house when she was on the way to the police station for duty.
Sub Inspector of Vallikunnam police Shaiju Ibrahim had told TNM that Ajaz's animosty towards Soumya grew after she rejected his proposal to marry him.
Ajaz is unmarried. Soumya was not ready to leave her children and marry Ajaz. According to the police, she had gradually stopped talking to him.
The crime was a pre-planned murder.
“The intention of Ajaz was to kill himself as well. He first poured petrol on himself, then stabbed, poured petrol on Soumya and set her on fire,” Shaiju Irbahim said.According to the statement made by Soumya’s mother Indira, Ajaz had tried to kill Soumya earlier too by pouring petrol on her.
Ajaz has been placed under suspension on Tuesday.