Man held for assaulting woman artist with metal rake in Kochi

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The Munambam police here on Monday arrested a middle-aged man for allegedly assaulting Sreeja Kalappurackal, an artist based in Ayyampilly near Kuzhuppilly.

The arrested has been identified as Sunny Koottala, a neighbour of the complainant. Mr. Koottala allegedly injured Ms. Kalappurackal using a metal rake in a fit of rage during an altercation on Saturday evening. The woman suffered injuries to her neck in the attack.

According to the FIR, the accused allegedly stabbed the woman with the rake when she questioned his act of blocking the free flow of water along the road in front of their homes.

Mr. Koottala was initially booked under Section 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons or means. An officer with the Munambam police station said Section 74 of the BNS, which penalises assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty, was added later.

A purported video of the incident has gone viral. A self-taught artist, Ms. Kalappurackal had conducted an exhibition of her paintings and artefacts in Kochi last year.