CHENNAI: After three weeks of investigations, the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Saturday arrested a 36-year-old construction worker who is suspected to have attacked a woman at Kasthuribai Nagar railway station last month.
The accused M Ashok Kumar, resident of Greenways Road in RA Puram, is an alcoholic and showed psychopathic tendencies, a GRP official said.
“His mother had abandoned him after his father’s death. His wife too had run away with another man because of his alcoholism. The victim resembled his wife and in a state of stupor he attacked her,” a GRP investigating official said.
The victim N Manimala (24), a resident of Ennore who works as a typist in an institute near the station, was shown photographs of several history sheeters. She identified Ashok Kumar based on his facial features including a crooked smile he gave before slashing her neck with a knife, police said, which was confirmed by Manimala’s relative.
Police were initially puzzled over the apparent lack of motive in the case, as the accused had left Manimala’s costly phone and chain untouched. After assaulting her, he left the spot immediately, police said, adding that misogyny could be a reason for the attack.
“He isn’t a history-sheeter, but he has been picked by police for public nuisance before. Based on that, we picked him up and he turned out to be the accused,” he said.
■ Ashok Kumar’s wife had run away with another man because of his alcoholism
■ Manimala resembled his wife and in a state of stupor, he attacked her
■ He fled after assault, leaving her costly phone and chain untouched