Keonjhar: A 39-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his elderly mother after tying her to an electric pole for ‘stealing’ a cauliflower at a village in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.
The accused was identified as Satrughna Mahanta, a resident of Saraspasi village under the jurisdiction of Champua village in the district. He was arrested after the report about the incident went viral on social media, triggering outrage across the state.
Some villagers also informed police that the elderly woman had visited a hospital for treatment. Police personnel rushed to the hospital and recorded her statement, sources said.
After investigation, the allegations against the accused son were found prima facie true and police arrested Mahanta after registering a case against him, police said.
As per reports, the woman had two sons, and the elder son had passed away a few years ago. The elderly woman has been staying alone following familial discord with her son. She has no other way for subsistence and used to live on government ration and help from villagers. The victim recently sold a cauliflower from the son’s farm to a neighbour.
After her son came to know about the incident, he tied the woman to an electric pole and thrashed her brutally. The incident reportedly took place on December 20. The video and photo of the brutal act of the son soon went viral.
