COIMBATORE: A 26-year-old youth was trashed badly by the public for attempting to rape a mentally-retarded woman, and later stabbing a person who came forward to help the woman.
Police identified the accused as Murali, allegedly a ganja addict, residing at SIDCO -Pillayarpuram, in the city's suburbs. Murali had entered the house of a 29-year-old mentally-retarded woman residing in the same area, while her parents were out on Sunday evening, and had attempted to rape her.
Hearing her scream, neighbours came to her rescue. On seeing them, Murali tried to escape, but the victim's neighbour Kannan, ran chasing the accused and caught him. Murali in turn stabbed him with a knife he had. But, others managed to overpower him and thrashed him badly.
Kannan was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and is under treatment.
On an alert, Podanur police rushed to the spot, rescued Murali from the public and took him to the CMCH for first aid.
Police have registered an attempt to murder case on Murali. Investigations are on. The incident has sent shock waves across the textile city and among the women in particular.
