Police in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district have arrested three people, including a married couple, for a shocking act of violence against a 70-year-old woman. The accused allegedly tied the elderly woman to a coconut tree and assaulted her on Sunday, following a dispute over family land near Kaveripattinam.
Viral Video Sparks Public Outrage
The brutal incident came to light after a video recording of the assault circulated widely on social media platforms on Monday. The footage sparked immediate and widespread outrage among the public, prompting swift police action. Authorities acted on a formal complaint lodged by the victim's family, which included the crucial video evidence.
Details of the Assault and Dispute
The victim has been identified as U Unnamalai, aged 70, from Aattupaalan Kottai near Kaveripattinam. Since her husband's demise, she had been living with the families of her two sons. The dispute erupted on Sunday when her husband's elder brother's son, Kumar (53), his wife Kalpana (45), and other relatives began ploughing a piece of land with a tractor. This land belongs to her husband's family.
Unnamalai objected to the ploughing activity because a property case related to the land is currently pending in court. Enraged by her opposition, Kumar and Kalpana, along with their relative Prabhakaran, allegedly tied the elderly woman to a nearby coconut tree and thrashed her.
Upon learning of the incident, a relative of Unnamalai, Annamalai, rushed to the spot to question the accused. However, he was also assaulted by the group. Other relatives then alerted the Kaveripattinam police, who promptly arrived at the scene and rescued Unnamalai.
Police Action and Arrests
Following the rescue and the formal complaint, Kaveripattinam police registered a case and launched an investigation. The three accused—Kumar, Kalpana, and Prabhakaran—were arrested on Monday. All three have been remanded to judicial custody and are currently lodged at the Salem central prison. The police investigation into the full circumstances of the case is ongoing.
This incident highlights the extreme and violent lengths to which disputes, particularly over land and property, can escalate. It has raised serious concerns about the safety of elderly individuals and the need for peaceful resolution mechanisms within communities.
