The police have arrested a 49-year-old man, who robbed an elderly woman of 1¾ sovereigns of jewellery after attempting to murder her at Valparai late on Tuesday. B. Udhayakumar, a resident of PWD quarters at Co-operative Colony, Valparai, was arrested on Wednesday.
S. Santhi (70), a resident of High School Quarters at Valparai, lodged a complaint with the Valparai police stating that Udhayakumar came to her residence between 8.45 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Tuesday, when her husband had gone to Pollachi.
According to the complainant, Udhayakumar, who had been working in the water supply section of the Valparai Municipality and known to her, knocked on the door when she was alone. As the woman opened the door, Udhayakumar told her that he had brought a hook for her chain. The complainant refused and went inside the house.
The complainant alleged that the man followed her inside and strangled her from behind. He threatened her and demanded her gold ornaments. The accused covered her mouth and removed her ¼ sovereign gold ring and ½ sovereign earrings. He also took a one sovereign gold chain from a shelf, before fleeing the spot.
The woman alerted her husband and daughter after regaining consciousness on Wednesday morning. The police arrested Udhayakumar and recovered the jewellery. He was sent to judicial remand.
Published – January 01, 2026 05:26 pm IST
