KANNUR: A 45-year-old woman who was set on fire by an unidentified man inside Alappuzha-bound Kannur Express train at Kannur railway station early on Monday, died by 9 pm at Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode.
The railway police said that the woman, identified as Fathima of Keezsherry near Kondotty in Malappuram district, had suffered 45 per cent burns and was admitted to MCH.
The train commencing operation from Kannur was on the track around 4.50 a.m. when the incident occurred.
No other commuters were inside the compartment.
The seat where Fathima apparently sat melted partially due to the fire and the train departed the station an hour behind schedule after detaching the compartment and fitting a new one.
Railway police circle inspector A.K. Babu told DC that the police had received some hints on the accused and that he would be held soon.
The police found a bottle from the spot which has been sent for chemical examination to trace out what inflammatory substance was used for the fire.
A few people present at the platform told police that they had seen the man and woman having a tiff before boarding the train.
Though the police and magistrate reached the hospital to record the woman’s declaration, she was not in a position to speak.
She was under treatment in a separate room with high security.
Police had registered a case of attempted murder earlier which will be revised with murder charges tomorrow, sources said.
The railway police superintendent is investigating the case, it was stated
