The Kerala man who barged into 21-year-old woman Neethu’s house in Thrissur on Thursday morning and set her ablaze works in a BPO firm in Kochi, the police have stated. The accused has been identified as 32-year-old Nidheesh Kallukkadan, a native of Vadakkekad, and police state that Nidheesh and the victim were friends and knew each other.
According to the police, the two had been in a relationship but Neethu had not agreed to get married to Nidheesh. Nidheesh came to Neethu’s house to confront and question her about it. Sources state that he had pre-planned the attack on her as he had brought along a knife and a can of petrol.
At around 7 am, Nidheesh parked his motorcycle outside Neethu’s home and went inside. There was no sign of a forced entry, which sources say indicates that Neethu’s family too knew him as one of her friends.
Neethu was at home with her grandmother, her uncle had gone out. An argument broke out between her and Nidheesh and then suddenly Nidheesh began to stab her. Her grandmother tried to stop Nidheesh but was pushed away. Nitheesh then poured petrol over Neethu and set her ablaze.
When Neethu's neighbours heard her cries, they rushed to the spot and saw Nidheesh trying to escape. They caught hold of him and thrashed him. Neethu, however, had died before they reached. The police were called to the spot. According to sources, Nidheesh was unconscious when the police arrived and he was then taken to a hospital for treatment.
Nidheesh is in the custody of the police and will be questioned over the motive for the attack. "He is bruised after the crowds thrashed him. We will record his statement soon," a police official told TNM.