80-yr-old woman throws acid on 55-yr-old niece

Coimbatore: An 80-year-old Sulur resident was arrested on Saturday for throwing acid on her 55-year-old niece.

Police identified the arrested woman as P Ramathal of Kangayampalayam in Sulur, a pawnbroker. “She was also engaged in the business of coating copper and brass vessels with tin. She used to keep acid in her house for the work and to verify the purity of gold ornaments pawned,” a police office said.

“Ramathal’s house is situated on a poramboke land. Her niece Sagunthala obtained patta for the land and started to construct a house there. The women were not in good terms and often fought with each other. On Saturday around 6.45am, while Sagunthala was returning to home after buying a packet of milk, Ramathal abused her before throwing acid on her. She also threw acid on Sagunthala’s younger brother Sakthivel,” the officer told TOI.

Neighbours rushed Sagunthala and Sakthivel to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

Sagunthala, who suffered 60% burns in the acid attack, is fighting for her life. Sakthivel, who suffered burn injuries on his right hand, was treated as an outpatient.

The Sulur police registered a case and arrested Ramathal. She was booked under sections 294 (b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 326 A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and remanded in judicial custody.