Man attacks wife, ends life

A 42-year-old man attacked his estranged wife with an iron rod before shooting himself dead near Kuzhitholu, under the Cumbummettu police station limits, in Idukki on Friday (October 30). According to police, the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. The deceased, Santhosh, a carpenter residing in Nettithozhu, arrived on a scooter at the Kuzhitholu post office, where his wife, Sreeja, 35, works as a temporary employee.

​Santhosh entered the premises, dragged her outside, and assaulted her with an iron rod. When local residents rushed to intervene, he brandished a firearm and threatened them. Moments later, he shot himself in the head and died on the spot.

​Sreeja sustained critical injuries and was admitted to a private hospital in Kattappana, where her condition remains serious. The man’s body has been shifted to a Idukki Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

​Police revealed that the couple had been living separately for the past four years. A divorce case is pending before the court, with a verdict expected soon.

​Investigators said that the weapon used in the incident was an unlicensed firearm. A probe has been launched to determine how Santhosh procured the revolver, as well as the broader circumstances surrounding the family dispute.