Kottarakkara: After threatening to kill a young lawyer, her husband poured gasoline on her in broad daylight and set her on fire. Aishwarya (26) was admitted to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram with 35 per cent burns after returning from Ezhukon Idaikkode Akshara who was being tried at Kottarakkara-1 Magistrate’s Court of First Class. The accused Kotathala Akhilniwasil Akhilraj (32) was arrested by the police at the scene with the help of the locals. Aishwarya, who was driving a scooter, was attacked on her bicycle. The accident happened near the Neduvathur Agro junction on the national highway at around 2pm yesterday.
Kottarakkara Police Says: The case under the Domestic Violence Prohibition Act has been going on in court for four years. Appeared yesterday for cost amount (MC) lawsuit. The court ordered the payment of expenses to his wife and child. Aishwarya’s statement is that Akhilraj directly threatened to kill her.
He also made a statement before the court. Both were released after the case. Threats continued in front of lawyers on court premises. Aishwarya returned home on a scooter and Akhilraj followed her on a bicycle. Tried to hit the scooter twice. Aishwarya, again suspicious of a quick chase, kept the scooter to the left as she reached the Agro junction.
Akhilraj overtook the scooter and rushed back to Aishwarya on the bicycle. Akhilraj caught Aishwarya as she got off her scooter, beat her and threw her to the ground. He sprayed the pepper spray he was holding on his face. Then gasoline was poured onto the body from the bottle. Aishwarya tried to run for her life and threw a lighter on his body. Aishwarya collapsed to the ground as her body caught fire. Locals also took part in the rescue operation by fetching water from a nearby shop and pouring it on her body. The fire spread to her shoulder and neck area.
Aishwarya was immediately taken to Taluk Hospital and then Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Akhilraj was caught by locals and handed over to the police as he ditched his bike and tried to flee the scene. Police recovered a juice bottle containing petrol, pepper spray and chili powder from the crash site. A young woman named Bindu, who was selling coal at the crossroads, also suffered minor burns on her neck as she tried to save Aishwarya.
An elderly man was also injured after falling to the ground during rescue operations. Akhilraj and Aishwarya got married six years ago. Akhilraj is a collection agent in a bank. Aishwarya’s lawyer Paramkot Sajukumar also says that there was a threat from Akhilraj. Kottarakkara Police has registered a case of attempted murder in the incident.
