Man kills bedridden wife, attempts suicide in Kottayam

A 74-year-old man allegedly strangled to death his bedridden wife before attempting to take his own life at Kidangoor here on Friday. The victim was identified as Remani, 70, of Manthadi, Kidangoor.

The police have arrested her husband, Soman E.R., in connection with the incident.

According to the police, the couple lived with their two sons. Soman allegedly murdered his wife in their bedroom on Friday night, distressed over the hardship of caring for her, said the police. After the murder, he attacked his younger son, but the elder son intervened.

Soman then moved to another room and tried to commit suicide by hanging, but his sons managed to rescue him. Neighbours alerted the police, who reached the house and took Soman into custody. Remani’s body was shifted to a hospital after the inquest, and would be handed over to her relatives after the post-mortem, the police said.

(Suicide prevention helpline: DISHA – 1056, 0471-2552056)