TRICHY: A 55-year-old woman attacked a man with a sickle in a village near Kulithalai in Karur district on Friday after he allegedly sexually abused her four-year-old granddaughter.The woman, Maheswari, lives with her husband Nagappan in a village near Kulithalai. Their son resides nearby with his family. On Thursday, the child’s mother asked T Manickam, 31, a mason from the same village, to drop the four-year-old girl at her grandparents’ house on his two-wheeler.Instead of taking the child to Maheswari’s house, Manickam allegedly took her to his residence, where he sexually assaulted her, according to the family. He later left the girl near her grandmother’s house and fled.The distressed child told Maheswari what had happened. Shocked and enraged, the 55-year-old grandmother armed herself with a bill hook and began searching for Manickam. On Friday, Maheswari learned that Manickam was moving around Kulithalai town. She tracked him down near a tea shop by the Kulithalai toll gate. She found him, chased him onto the Trichy-Karur main road for a few meters, and hacked him repeatedly.Manickam sustained multiple cuts and collapsed amid screams that drew neighbours to the spot. Maheswari’s relatives, who were following her, also joined in assaulting him.Kulithalai police arrived on receiving information, seized the bill hook from Maheswari and took her to the police station.Manickam, who was critically injured, was admitted to the Kulithalai Government Hospital for treatment. The four-year-old victim is also receiving medical care.Police have detained the injured suspect and are investigating the alleged sexual abuse and the subsequent attack. Speaking to TOI, an official said, “We have received a complaint from the girl’s family and registered a case against the suspect. It is premature to conclude as investigation is in progress.”
