In a horrific case that has shocked Kasaragod, 26-year-old Melvin Montero was arrested from Kundapura in Udupi district for the brutal murder of his mother and the attempted murder of his aunt.
The victim, Hilda Montero (59), was a resident of Nallengi in Vorkady panchayat. Around 1 a.m., Melvin allegedly woke her, took her to the kitchen, poured petrol on her, and set her ablaze. He then proceeded next door to his maternal uncle’s house and lured Lolita (30), his aunt, out on the pretext of his mother’s disappearance. He then allegedly struck her on the head, doused her in petrol, and set her on fire as well.
Lolita, who has a five-year-old son and whose husband works abroad, survived the attack and is being treated at Yenepoya Hospital, Mangaluru. She remains in the ICU but is reportedly out of danger, according to local leaders.
Melvin fled on foot, walking 4 km to Majirpalla, then taking an autorickshaw to Hosangadi, where he asked for a bus to Mangaluru. He travelled by three different buses, turned his mobile on intermittently, and was eventually tracked by police with the help of the Udupi and Mangaluru police teams.
He was arrested near a quarry on Kundapura’s outskirts, where he had gone after buying liquor. Police were able to pinpoint his location through the autorickshaw driver who dropped him.
Melvin, who worked at a laterite quarry, was reportedly a habitual drinker. His father died five years ago, and his brother is working in Kuwait. Police are still investigating the motive behind the gruesome attack.