Shahnaz rapes a 76-year-old woman in Kollam, Kerala

An accused who raped a 76-year-old woman living alone at Krishnapuram near Kayamkulam has been arrested. Shahnaz (25), a native of Oachira, Kollam, has been arrested. The shocking incident took place on Thursday evening around 7 pm.

Police said the accused, who was hiding near the house, ran inside when the elderly woman opened the door and molested her. She lived alone in a house near the railway station and the accused had been watching her home. To muffle her cries for help, the pervert stuffed some clothes into the woman’s mouth. Shahnaz fled the scene after committing the crime.

Police claimed that Shahnaz was under the influence of alcohol. The accused was caught after an investigation based on CCTV footage. Police nabbed the suspect who was hiding near the pond of Krishnapuram Palace.

On Friday morning, locals found the elderly woman with severe injuries and took her to Government TD Medical College in Vandanam, Alappuzha. She was undergoing emergency surgery. The hospital authorities informed the police, who then went to the ICU and recorded the statement of the victim. The police registered the case after reporting the information from the hospital.

There was a similar complaint against Shahnaz earlier. A few days ago, he had committed a similar assault on another elderly woman in Kayamkulam. He was arrested in the new case while the earlier case was still under investigation.

Police said it was his usual practice to torture elderly people after consuming intoxicants. Two weeks ago, he was involved in a brawl near the Oachira temple premises and fled.

Shahnaz is a fisherman and a habitual offender who has served time in prison for drug trafficking, among other things. In 2018, Shahnaz was caught by Karunagappally Customs officials with one and a half kilos of marijuana. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Shahnaz showed no remorse after her arrest and was all smiles and smirks. The accused was produced in court and remanded in custody. The victim is said to be in stable condition. Further details are awaited.