Scuffle with neighbouring woman; more information about elderly man's death is out

IDUKKI: More information has come out regarding the incident where an elderly man died after fighting with a neighbouring woman over a pathway. The deceased is 77-year-old Surendran, a native of Mullaringad in Idukki. Police are observing the woman named Devaki, Surendran's neighbour, in connection with the incident.

According to the police, a dispute has been going on between Devaki and Surendran for some days over Surendran travelling through the pathway before Devaki's house. The two had quarrelled over the matter several times. On Wednesday morning, Surendran returned to his house in an autorickshaw after having breakfast at a teashop. As the autorickshaw approached the pathway, Devaki blocked the vehicle by standing in front of it. Following this, a dispute broke out between Surendran and Devaki. As the dispute intensified, the autorickshaw driver left the spot.

Devaki later told the police that during the fight, Surendran beat her with a wooden log and that she snatched the log from him and struck him back. Both of them fell down in the fight that followed. Devaki then got up and returned home. However, Surendran was not able to get up.

Surendran lay down on the way for a long time. Later, the neighbours informed the panchayat president about the matter. The panchayat president immediately contacted the police. Surendran was later rushed to the Thodupuzha District Hospital in an ambulance. However, he died before reaching the hospital. The police have registered a case of unnatural death and started an investigation. The body has been shifted to the Idukki Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.