Woman sexually abused, 1 arrested

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vizhinjam police on Sunday arrested a 32-year-old man on charges of sexually abusing a woman. The police identified the accused as Shaiju of Pullanimukku near Venganoor, under Vizhinjam police station limits.
The police said that the complainant in the case was the wife of a non-resident Indian living with her 13-year-old son at Amarivila near Venganoor.
They said that Shaiju was accompanied by another man, Ranju, a history-sheeter accused in several criminal cases.
According to the police sources, the incident related to the case took place on Saturday around 3pm. The two men barged into the complainant’s residence. While Ranju tried to overpower the woman and rape her, Shaiju stood guard.
When a relative of the complainant, Sabu, rushed to the woman’s rescue on hearing her screams, Shaiju attacked him using a machete.
After neighbours gathered around hearing the commotion, the two accused fled from the house.
The police said that the main accused Ranju had tried to sexually abuse the woman several times in the past also.
The complainant and her son had moved into the rented house they live now three months ago. Ever since, she has been facing harassment at the hands of Ranju.
She informed her husband who is working abroad about the threat from Ranju following which he sought the help of the local ward member.
It is suspected that when Ranju came to know that the woman’s husband has spoken about him to the ward member, he was furious. He was adamant on taking revenge on the woman and hence tried to sexually abuse her with the help of his friend.
A police team is hunting for Ranju, who is on the run. Shaiju's arrest was recorded by Vizhinjam station house officer inspector Prajeesh Sasi.
The police have registered a case invoking relevant Sections of criminal trespass, causing hurt using arms and outraging the modesty of a woman. Shaiju was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.
Sabu, the woman’s relative who sustained injuries on neck and arms, is under treatment in a hospital.