Four persons, including a man recently released on bail, died after a brutal arson attack in Sivakasi of Virudhunagar district early on Wednesday, while a teenage girl is battling for life.
Police said Akbar Ali, 55, poured petrol and set fire to his wife Sayeed Ali Fatima, 35, her two children Farooq, 13, and Parveen, 18, and his elderly mother Sikandar Biwi while they were asleep at their house on Muslim Odai Street. Akbar Ali also sustained severe burn injuries in the incident.
All five victims were rushed in critical condition to the Sivakasi Government Hospital. Sikandar Biwi, Sayeed Ali Fatima, Farooq and Akbar Ali later succumbed to their injuries. Parveen remains under intensive care.
Investigations revealed that Sayeed Ali Fatima was the widow of Mubarak Ali, who had died in a road accident. Following his death, she married Akbar Ali, who had been living separately earlier. Police said disputes arose between the couple over the insurance compensation received after Mubarak Ali’s death.
Akbar Ali had been arrested earlier for assaulting his wife during a quarrel linked to the insurance money and was released on bail just two days before the fatal incident.
Police have registered a case and further investigation is under way.
