Two persons, who were out on bail after being arrested in a woman harassment case, were set ablaze on Sunday afternoon in Theni by a group of villagers after the duo randomly attacked those allegedly responsible for their arraignment in the case.
In December last year, two brothers Manikandan (29) and Karthik had allegedly harassed a woman while she was bathing. When the woman’s relatives had confronted them, their uncle Krishnan (40) allegedly abused and intimidated them and supported his nephews. Later, on a complaint the police had arrested the brothers and Krishnan and lodged them in jail. After coming out on bail, the three were initially ashamed to enter their native Karichipatti village and went to Kerala where they earned a living as labourers.
“On Sunday, Manikandan and Krishnan came to the village and began attacking people whom they suspected of lodging the complaint with sickles. Eight persons, including a woman, sustained injuries,” said Theni SP Praveenkumar Abinabu.
Hearing the screams of the victims, villagers began chasing Manikandan and Krishnan. Fearing for their lives, the two locked themselves up in the house built with tin sheets. “The irate villagers broke open a window and dumped straw inside and set it on fire. Manikandan and his uncle were charred to death,” Abinabu said. A hunt is on for the accused.
While Marthi Raj, who sustained grievous injuries when the two attacked him with a sickle, was rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, seven others including a woman were admitted at the Theni Government Hospital for treatment.