A shocking video of a mentally-ill woman being beaten up by three women in front of several people has now emerged from Pallipuram, a village on the northern tip of Vypeen. Based on the video, which went viral on social media, the police have filed a case against the women, identified as Liji Augustine, 42, Teena Biju, 34, and Molly Sebastian, 44, under IPC 324 and 34 for assault. She was dragged along the ground and her heels were burnt even as the women kept beating her up. It happened in full public view and not a single person intervened to help. Instead, the women were cheered on by some people.
The accused were later 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.
The woman, a native of Pallippuram, was subjected to brutal assault by the accused at a tea shop near Kunjithai ferry on Monday morning. Later, they dragged her outside and burnt her feet using an iron spatula. Unable to bear the assault, the woman, who had lain motionless on the ground all this while, ran for her life and jumped into a nearby waterbody.
Besides the woman, her 14-year-old daughter was also injured in the attack.
According to the police, the accused women were living in the victim’s neighbourhood, who accused her of troubling them often. “They had even lodged a complaint against her demanding that she be either treated for her mental illness or be arrested,” officials said, adding that she had been presented before a magistrate once.
Another daughter of the victim was married off a couple of days ago.
The incident on Monday was a continuation of the woman’s spat with the accused from the previous day, which eventually ended up at the police station. After returning, they entered into an altercation with her, culminating in the assault.
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