CHENNAI: AN elderly woman living alone was allegedly tortured by a gang of robbers who branded her with cigarettes before snatching away gold jewellery and cash from her on Monday. The shocking incident reportedly took place in a congested locality at Tondiarpet between 3 and 4 pm as most of 67-year-old Fathima’s neighbours were taking the afternoon nap.
“Even after she handed over the cupboard keys, the three-member gang stuffed a piece of cloth in her mouth and branded her with cigarettes on the forehead and hand. They threatened to kill her if she spoke about the incident to the police,” said a neighbour, quoting the victim.
The gang had locked the house door from outside and taken away the key. When neighbours broke open the door at 6.30 pm, they found the old lady lying unconscious and bleeding. According to them, she should have been in that state for at least two hours since the robbers left the place.
The gold jewels – ear rings, chain and ring – that Fathima was wearing were missing along with `5,000 cash.
None had noticed the incident. “Only around 6.30 pm someone noticed her lying locked inside and called for help. “I broke open the door. We alerted ambulance and police,” said Mohammed Arif, who works at the mosque located a few meters away from the house.
“Fathima’s husband Mustfa works in a textile shop in Trichy and left for work on Saturday. The couple do not have children and the woman stays alone. She has moved into the two room house only three months ago,” said Arif.
A senior police officer monitoring the investigations, said the robbery could be the handiwork of men acquainted with the victim. “We are conducting inquiries and have launched a search for the suspects,” he added.
Woman kidnapped from home
A 26-year-old woman was allegedly kidnapped at knife-point by three men who entered her house at Pattabhiram on Monday.
Quoting the family, police officers said three men entered the house around 9 am and forcibly took away Sneha, an MCA graduate, at knife-point in a car.
Sneha was lived with her father R Loganathan at School street, Chathiram, Pattabiram.
On Monday, Sneha’s parents had left for work and Loganathan’s mother Vijayalakshmi present at the house.
The family has lodged a complaint of kidnapping. Police said a suspect K Sadiq (32), was known to Sneha and the family.
“The girl had phoned her father on Monday night and said she was safe and the family need not search for her. But we are trying to trace her,” police said.