Naked man who peeped into houses tied up & beaten, five held for assault

Kottayam: A man, who frequently visited houses with only women at night — completely naked — and allegedly peered through windows before fleeing, was caught by residents and assaulted in Ranni, Pathanamthitta, police said. Five persons were arrested and remanded in judicial custody in the case on Wednesday.

Varghese Mathew, 58, a native of Ranni Angadi, was beaten up with sticks around midnight on Sunday. For several days, he had been causing alarm at several houses in Ranni Karinkutti and surrounding areas, police said. Though many residents had identified him, they failed to catch him. On Sunday night, when he arrived naked at a house in the locality and peered through a window, residents detained him. An enraged mob then tied him up and beat him.

Police first took Mathew to Ranni taluk hospital. As his injuries were serious, he was subsequently shifted to Kottayam medical college for further treatment.

Women from houses he targeted came forward with complaints. Police recorded the statement of a 29-year-old woman, who said he harassed her on multiple occasions, and registered a case on Monday. Serious charges, including outraging the modesty of a woman, have been filed against Mathew. As he is hospitalised, his arrest hasn't been formally recorded.

As per Mathew’s statement, a case was registered against the residents involved in the assault. Five persons were arrested in this case and remanded. Those remanded are: Jishnu, 31, of Purathepparambil Kalayil house, and Mahesh, 32, of Manimalettu Kalayil house, both from Nellikkamon; Shashi, 56, of Manimalettu Kalayil; Roji M Raju, 30, of Meppurathukalayil house; and Rajin, 32, of Valumannil house, Thombikkandam.