Madurai:
Discord among a police constable and his wife and daughter over his alleged drinking habit led to tragedy as all three lost their lives after being burnt during a confrontation over the issue.
Kalavathi (40), wife of Nagaiyasamy, died on December 27 while the constable and his 15-year-old daughter, Keerthana, succumbed to burns at a hospital in Madurai on Tuesday, police said.
According to police, trouble started in Nagaiyasamy's family when he returned to his police quarters home heavily drunk on the night of December 27.
Angered by his drinking, Kalavathi and her daughter threatened to commit suicide and doused themselves with kerosene before striking a match and holding the burning stick in their hand.
Fearing that they would commit suicide, the constable pounced on them to foil them but, in the process, all three of them were covered in flames, suffering 90 per cent burns, police said.
They were rushed to a hospital by neighbours, they said, adding that further inquiries are on in this connection.