Rumour spread by unidentified persons stating that money would be provided for tonsure created a flutter in Salem district.
According to the police, Palaniammal (30), a resident of Pudhu Kothampadi near Attur, received a call from an unknown number on Sunday evening (July 26, 2026). The person on call, alleging that he was the Tahsildar of Attur, claimed that a new variant of COVID-19 was spreading through hair, and that the government was providing financial assistance for tonsure.
The person instructed her to gather people to tonsure and that he would come to their area on Monday (July 27, 2026), and also share a few images of those who tonsured for money.
Believing this, Palaniammal started spreading this information to her relatives and prepared 20 people for tonsuring on Monday evening, and three women tonsured. But, no one came to their area on Monday, and while she tried to reach out to the number, it was switched off. The Attur police are investigating regarding the incident.
Published – July 28, 2026 07:25 pm IST
