Rape accused man ends life after wife spurns him

A 58-year old man, released on bail in a case of alleged rape of a six-year old girl, committed self-immolation, presuming his wife to be dead after he hit her on being prevented from entering the house.
Velliyan of Parakkalur village in the district was arrested for allegedly raping the girl, his neighbour, on December 3 last year. He obtained bail a few days ago and returned to his home yesterday, police said.
However, his 50-year old wife did not allow him to enter the house as she was ashamed by the 'crime' he had committed.
Angered over her stand, the man hit her with stones and she fainted after sustaining injuries on her face. Thinking that she had died, the man doused himself in kerosene and set himself afire last night, police said.

The woman, rushed to the government hospital here by neighbours, was undergoing treatment, they said.