A shocking incident unfolded in Kottayam on Monday morning, where a car belonging to a senior doctor was allegedly set on fire by his former security guard. The accused later succumbed to severe burn injuries sustained during the act.
Incident Reported Near Doctor’s Residence
The victim is a former Head of the Endocrinology Department at Kottayam Medical College. The incident occurred around 7:30 am at his residence located near the Gandhinagar–Medical College Road.
The fire was first noticed by a domestic worker who had arrived for routine chores and immediately alerted authorities.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
According to officials at the local fire station, information about the blaze was received around 8:10 am. Fire Force personnel and police teams rushed to the spot and found the accused lying near the burning vehicle with critical burn injuries.
He was immediately shifted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital for treatment but died later in the evening.
Motive Linked to Job Dismissal, Mental Health Angle Probed
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had been working as a night watchman at the doctor’s residence and was recently dismissed from his job. Authorities suspect this may have been a triggering factor behind the act.
Police are also examining whether the accused was dealing with mental health issues.
Fire Contained Before Major Damage
The situation could have escalated further, but employees from a nearby petrol pump quickly intervened using fire extinguishers, preventing the flames from spreading to the house. However, one window of the residence sustained damage in the incident.
Funeral Scheduled, Family Survived
The deceased is survived by his wife and two children. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 3:30 pm.
Previous Similar Incident Reported in Maharashtra
In a separate earlier incident in Maharashtra, a car carrying a doctor couple caught fire in Beed district near Mahajanwadi crossroad on the Manjarsumba–Patoda road. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in that case.
