In a shocking incident, an elderly woman was killed by burglars at Anikkadu near Mallappally on Sunday.
Anee Joy, aged 72, wife of Joy, Thekkuzhi Mepurathu house at Muttathumavu in Anikkadu, was killed by a three-member gang of robbers who broke in to the elderly couple’s home around 11 am.
The trio, who were migrant labourers, had been employed at Joy’s house for the last couple of months. And police believe that the culprits are from West Bengal and they had resided at Mallappally.
Meanwhile, an injured Joy, who was tied up by the robbers, has been admitted to St Thomas Hospital at Chethipuzha in Changanassery.
According to the neighbours, the incident occurred shortly after the victims returned from Church.
“The labourers who were given the responsibility of drying rubbersheets used to work on the first floor. After Joy returned from the church, they called him to the first floor on the pretext that the rubbersheets had fallen down. After that they beat him up and tied him.
On hearing Joy’s cries, Anee tried to go to the first floor.
At that time the culprits hit her on the head, they said. Police said that when they reached the crime scene, Anee was lying face down with injuries on her head. “According to the statement given by Joy, he was beaten and tied in a room on the first floor by three labourers.
“He remembers one of the labourers as Ali. They forced open the almirah and robbed the gold and cash. Joy couldn’t estimate the cash or the gold lost, because he is very unhealthy,” Police said. The incident has caused fear among the people. Joseph M Puthussery, former MLA ,has demanded that the registration of labourers from other states should be made compulsory.
“People have no idea about the address or background of the labourers.
All police stations should keep a register of the details of labourers from other states in their police station limit.
The government should cancel the licences of labour contractors who do not follow this procedure,” Joseph M Puthussery said.
