A 78-year-old woman has died after her son allegedly assaulted her and forcibly ripped gold earrings from her ears when she refused to give him money to buy alcohol in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The tragic incident occurred in Pathiri village, near Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district, and has sparked outrage among residents after police revealed the details of the alleged attack.
Son Allegedly Demanded Money for Alcohol
According to investigators, the elderly woman had been living alone since the death of her husband several years ago. Her 47-year-old son, who works as a truck driver, reportedly visited her home on July 28 while allegedly intoxicated.
Police said he demanded money from his mother to purchase alcohol. However, the pensioner reportedly told him she had no cash to give him.
Authorities allege that the argument quickly turned violent.
Gold Earrings Allegedly Torn From Victim’s Ears
Investigators claim the suspect physically assaulted his mother before forcibly tearing a pair of four-gram gold stud earrings from her ears.
The attack reportedly left the elderly woman with severe injuries to both earlobes and significant blood loss before the suspect fled the scene.
Residents who heard about the incident rushed to help the injured woman and transported her to the Government General Hospital in Vandavasi for emergency medical treatment.
Victim Dies Days Later
Although doctors treated her injuries, her condition reportedly deteriorated in the days that followed.
The 78-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries on July 31, just three days after the alleged assault.
Her death prompted family members to seek justice, with her daughter filing a formal complaint at Vandavasi (North) Police Station.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Following an investigation, police arrested the woman’s 47-year-old son on Saturday morning.
Authorities have since charged him with murder as investigations into the case continue.
Police are expected to present the suspect before court as legal proceedings begin.
Community Shocked by Tragic Incident
The incident has shocked residents of Pathiri village, highlighting growing concerns over alcohol-related domestic violence and abuse against elderly family members.
Authorities have urged the public to report cases of domestic abuse and violence to prevent similar tragedies.
