A 27-year-old man from Kerala, who was trying to moral police a 17-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man, was stabbed and injured in the process. The incident took place at a private bus stand in Thodupuzha in Idukki district on Saturday evening.
Vinu Prakash, a resident of Thodupuzha, and the girl, who is his neighbour, were standing at the bus stand and talking when three men approached the duo and started questioning them.
The men first started questioning the girl and then Vinu. The three later started assaulting the duo and created a ruckus in the area. One of the three, Libin Baby, then took out a knife from his pocket and tried to attack Vinu. However, while trying to stop the attack, Vinu got hold of the knife and stabbed Libin on his shoulders.
Libin was taken to a nearby private hospital but since the stab was about four centimetres deep, it was difficult to remove the knife from his shoulder. He was later taken to Kolenchery Medical College for treatment.
Vinu, who also sustained some injuries during the tussle, is undergoing treatment. Vinu said that Libin got injured while the former was trying to take away the knife from him.
The two other men - Vallomkallel Anandu (20) and Karimpilakkatil Syamlin (31) - too suffered some injuries and have been admitted to a hospital in Thodupuzha.
The three had come to Thodupuzha to attend a function.
Speaking to TNM, Thodupuzha Sub Inspector MP Sagar said that Vinu accompanied the girl on the request of her mother. “Both of them are neighbours. The girl came to attend a military coaching class in Thodupuzha. The accused twisted the arm of the girl during the argument,” said the SI.
“We have registered a case against the three and the youth in connection with the incident. We will file a POCSO case as per the statement of the girl. The case has been booked against the three under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Since the girl is from Schedule Tribe, sections under Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribe Act have been filed against the three. A case was charged against the youth too, for attempt to murder,” said the police official.