Kozhikode Shop Owner's Terrifying Ordeal: Woman Sprays Him, Attempts Self-Immolation During Robbery Bid

You know, some mornings just start like any other, quiet and routine. But for Aneesh, who runs the "Good Day Fresh Juice and Snacks" shop in Chelavoor, Kozhikode, this past Friday morning was anything but. What began with a simple request for water quickly spiraled into a truly bewildering and terrifying ordeal, a scene that honestly sounds like something straight out of a movie script.

It was still relatively early, around 8:30 AM, when a woman, later identified as 45-year-old Sreeja from Elathur, walked into his shop. She seemed, at first glance, like any other customer, asking for a glass of water. A polite request, right? Aneesh, ever the obliging shop owner, certainly thought so. But then, things took an incredibly dark and unexpected turn.

Suddenly, without warning, Sreeja pulled out a bottle and, believe it or not, sprayed Aneesh directly in the face with an unknown substance. Witnesses and initial reports suggest it might have been petrol, though the exact chemical remains under investigation. The immediate shock and burning sensation must have been immense. But the horror didn't stop there. In a truly desperate and unsettling move, she then doused herself with the very same liquid, right there inside the shop, and tried to set herself ablaze. Can you even imagine the sheer terror in that moment?

Despite being reeling from the attack, Aneesh, with incredible presence of mind, reacted swiftly. He managed to push Sreeja out of his shop, desperately trying to prevent further damage or, God forbid, a fire engulfing his livelihood and potentially him. Once she was outside, he quickly pulled down the shutter, essentially barricading himself and his shop from this bizarre, unfolding nightmare.

But Sreeja wasn't done. Standing just outside the now-closed shop, she continued her chilling attempt at self-immolation. Thankfully, the commotion had drawn the attention of passersby and local residents. Seeing the horrifying spectacle, they rushed to intervene, physically preventing her from lighting herself. It was a chaotic scene, undoubtedly, but their quick thinking prevented a much graver tragedy. The locals then held her until the Medical College police arrived, taking her into custody.

Aneesh, though shaken and suffering from the effects of the spray, is incredibly lucky to be alive and to have prevented more serious harm to himself and his business. The motive behind this truly disturbing incident appears to have been an attempted robbery, but the additional element of attempted self-harm adds a layer of profound desperation and, perhaps, mental distress that leaves many questions unanswered. It just goes to show, you never truly know what a new day might bring, or who might walk into your shop.