Chennai: Attacked in robbery bid, woman dies

The accused, Karthik, 24, is a mechanic who repairs air conditioners, had approached the house of Shakubai’s grandchildren Ayyapan , 33, a software engineer and Vidya, 30, in Palavanthangal.

Karthik told Vidya, whose husband was away at work, that he had come to repair the air conditioners in their house. Vidya however denied him entry saying that the air conditioners were working fine and asked him to come back when her husband would be present in the house. At this point, Karthik pulled out a knife and held it to Vidya’s neck, he then pushed himself into the house and locked the doors.

Karthik then demanded that Vidya remove the four sovereign gold chain she was wearing but she started to scream alerting Shakubai who was in the next room. Shakubai tried to stop the intruder when he pushed her to the ground and then dragged her to bathroom and locked her up inside. He then threatened to kill Vidya if she did not hand over her chain and then fled the spot. When Vidya opened the bathroom door she found Shakubai lying in a pool of blood and rushed her to a private hospital. Four days later, the lady succumbed to her injuries.

The accused had already been arrested on Monday by the Palavathangal police and slapped with a case for robbery, after the death on Monday the case has now turned in a murder case under IPC section 302.