A man reportedly threw acid on his wife, shortly before he ended his life by consuming poison, near the Bazaar area in the city on Thursday night.
The police said that L. Balasubramani (36) of Kembatty Colony in the city married his relative Dhanalakshmi (29) of Mysore 12 years ago.
The couple has two sons aged 10 and 6 years. Balasubramani, said to be an alcoholic and drug addict, used to pick quarrels with his wife often. Over the last six months the couple lived separately as he did not have a job and was suspicious of his wife’s fidelity. Dhanalakshmi was a daily wager in a gold jewellery making outlet.
On Thursday evening, while she was on her way back home from work, Balasubramani threw acid on her and fled from the scene, Sub Inspector S.P. Hemalatha said.
The victim was rushed to the Coimbatore Government Hospital. According to hospital sources, she had suffered 40 per cent burns and her condition was said to be critical.
Meanwhile the police who went in search of Balasubramani found him dead in his parents’ house in the same area. He had reportedly consumed poison. His body was taken to government hospital for post-mortem.
The Bazaar Police - attached to the Coimbatore City Police - have registered a case under sections 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedures.
