Kerala: Women assault mentally-ill housewife

Kochi: A mentally-ill woman was brutally roughed up by her neighbours in full public view at Vypeen here as Munambam police on Tuesday finally arrested three women after an assault video went viral on social media platforms. The incident happened on Monday morning when the victim arrived at a teashop near her house at Pallipuram and was bashed up by women in groups before dragging her on to the road. As the victim lay motionless, the attackers burnt her feet using an iron spatula. Her 14- year-old daughter who tried to prevent the attack was also bashed up. Though a large crowd had assembled, no one interfered.

“We’ve arrested three women who were seen assaulted her in the video. They were all charged with assault charges and produced before a magistrate.  Further probe is on and more arrests will be made if more persons are found involved,” said Arun G, Station Head Officer, Munambam. Those arrested were identified as Liji Augustine, 42, Moli Sebastian, 44, and Teena Biju, 34, all natives of Pallipuram and neighbours of the victim. “We’ve taken the statement of the victim’s spouse. The reports of her going missing after the incident are false. She had gone to her sister’s house in the city and returned. We’ll soon record her statement too after getting the nod of doctors,” the officer said.

However, her neighbours charged that the victim used to beat them up and humiliate them often. They then lodged a police complaint demanding that she be either treated for her mental illness or be arrested. Another daughter of her was married a couple of days ago and she tried to attack her neighbours last Sunday morning. “The accused told us that the victim was upset over them approaching the police and began throwing stones at the teashop which provoked them,” police said.

Though the incident happened on Monday, the cops didn’t lodge any case till the assault video went viral in social media. Vypeen MLA S. Sharma deplored the incident and said all legal action will be taken against the accused. The incident comes days after a man, who fell from third-storey of a lodge at Ernakulam city, was left unattended for nearly 10 minutes.