MUMBAI, May 14: A man died today of injuries sustained in a vicious beating by the lover of his daughter at Vakola in Santacruz (East) yesterday. The assailant was arrested this afternoon.

Manuel Miranda, 67, had tried to save his daughter, Beulah, as she was being assaulted by Kenneth, her lover and first cousin. His wife, Beryl, said that around 4 p.m. yesterday, a niece ran into their house crying that Kenneth was beating their daughter. Miranda immediately rushed out and found the man punching her.

As he dashed to her rescue, Kenneth turned his attention to him. He began to savagely punch and kick the older man on the head and private parts till he collapsed. Then, said Beryl, he picked up a brick and smashed it repeatedly on Miranda's head, shoulder and neck. After the assault, Miranda was rushed to a nearby municipal hospital from where, as his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to the Bhabha Hospital in Bandra (West).

Blood clots had developed in his abdomen and, as the hospital was unequipped to handle his complications, Miranda was admitted to the Holy Family Hospital. He died there this morning.

The Vakola police said the love affair of eight years between the two cousins might have split their families. Beulah's parents were said to be against it because Kenneth was unemployed. The case filed against him yesterday for beating Miranda was today turned into a case of murder.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.