Malappuram: Police investigation into the death of three at Perinthalmanna after a goods vehicle exploded points finger at a planned murder by the husband.
Mampuzha Muhammed locked his wife and two kids in the front side of the vehicle, poured petrol over it and set on fire, the primary investigation tells. Muhammed jumped into a well in the vicinity as he caught fire when the vehicle exploded.
The incident happened at around noon at Kondipparambil in the Pandikkad-Perinthalmanna road. It took almost 40 minutes for the locals to douse the fire. It is suspected that the vehicle also had explosives in it, which resulted in the explosion.
Wife Jasmine and daughter Fathimath Safa were charred to death inside the vehicle. Five-year-old Shifana is taken to hospital with serious burns.
It is believed that family feud led to the gruesome murder. It is not clear if Muhammad jumped into the well to kill himself or accidentally fell after he caught fire. Muhammad was a Kasaragod native.
Locals rushed to the spot after hearing the explosion. However, it was a difficult task for them to douse it as the fire had spread all over the vehicle. They had to stand beside and watch helplessly. Meanwhile, Shifana fell out of the vehicle through the door and was rushed to the hospital, a native said. She is currently under treatment at the paediatric surgery section of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. She is burned up to 80 per cent, doctors said. It was the natives who took her to Kozhikode hospital from Manjeri.