Kottayam: A man who repeatedly visited houses occupied solely by women at night, completely naked, and allegedly peered through windows before fleeing, was caught by residents and assaulted in Ranni, Pathanamthitta, police said. Five individuals were arrested and remanded in judicial custody in connection with the case on Wednesday.
Incident Details
Varghese Mathew, 58, a native of Ranni Angadi, was beaten with sticks around midnight on Sunday. For several days, he had been causing alarm at multiple houses in Ranni Karinkutti and surrounding areas, police reported. Although many residents had identified him, they were unable to apprehend him. On Sunday night, when he arrived naked at a house in the locality and peered through a window, residents detained him. An enraged mob then tied him up and beat him.
Medical Treatment and Legal Proceedings
Police first took Mathew to Ranni Taluk Hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was subsequently transferred to Kottayam Medical College for further treatment. Women from the houses he targeted came forward with complaints. Police recorded the statement of a 29-year-old woman, who said he harassed her on multiple occasions, and registered a case on Monday. Serious charges, including outraging the modesty of a woman, have been filed against Mathew. As he remains hospitalized, his arrest has not been formally recorded.
Arrest of the Assailants
Based on Mathew's statement, a case was registered against the residents involved in the assault. Five persons were arrested in this case and remanded. Those remanded are: Jishnu, 31, of Purathepparambil Kalayil house, and Mahesh, 32, of Manimalettu Kalayil house, both from Nellikkamon; Shashi, 56, of Manimalettu Kalayil; Roji M Raju, 30, of Meppurathukalayil house; and Rajin, 32, of Valumannil house, Thombikkandam.
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