A 27-year-old woman, Ramitha, caught fire at a hospital in Mannadukka on Monday night (April 14) in a man who died in a hospital in Mangaluru.
The defendant Ramavrutham, a native of Tamil Nadu and owner of a nearby furniture store, is believed to have attacked her after being asked to evacuate the site.
The incident allegedly occurred around 3.15 pm on April 8. Ramitha was first taken to Kanthan Regional Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Mangaluru due to the severity of the burn. Police said she succumbed to her injuries on Monday night despite saving her.
Ramavrutham reportedly tried to escape by boarding a bus parked nearby after the alleged attack.
However, locals and bus staff caught him and handed him over to Beccam police.
“Ramitha earlier complained that Ramavrutham often caused harassment in her shop under the influence of alcohol. According to her complaint, the owner of the building asked the defendant to evacuate, which reportedly triggered an attack. We believe the attack was an act of revenge,” a police officer said. After the investigation, her body was taken to the Kannur Government Medical College for autopsy and will be handed over to the family afterwards.
Ramitha’s eight-year-old son and his classmates attended the event with minor injuries. Police said the murder will now be prosecuted against the detained defendants.
publishing – April 15, 2025 at 11:34 pm IST
