Kochi, 29 September (H.S.):A woman was stabbed to death at her home in Kothamangalam early Tuesday, and police have taken her husband into custody in connection with the killing.

The victim was identified as Kunjamma, a resident of Happy Nagar in Kuthukuzhy. Her husband, Kuriakose, was at the house when officers arrived, police said. The incident is believed to have occurred around 2.30 a.m.

Kunjamma and Kuriakose lived alone at the house. Their two children are abroad. According to the information available to police, Kuriakose had been resting at home for the past month after undergoing surgery.

Police said Kuriakose called their son overseas after the killing and told him what had happened. The son then contacted neighbours, who alerted the Kothamangalam police.

Officers who reached the house found Kunjamma’s body lying in a pool of blood. They took Kuriakose into custody and began an inquiry into the circumstances of her death. Inquest proceedings have also started.

Investigators suspect that a family dispute may have led to the killing, but police described this as a preliminary assessment. The exact sequence of events inside the house has yet to be established. Officers are expected to examine the accounts of Kuriakose, the family and neighbours as they piece together what happened before and after the stabbing.

The case came to light only after the call to the couple’s son, as no other family member was living with them. Police have not yet disclosed what may have triggered the suspected dispute or whether there had been any earlier complaint involving the couple.

Further details are expected after the inquest and the continuing police investigation.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman