Vypin (Kochi): Two days after a woman auto-rickshaw driver was attacked and abandoned here on the beach, police on Wednesday apprehended two individuals, including a close relative of the victim, in connection to the incident.
"One of the arrested individuals is a close relative of the victim, and the other is a member of a quotation gang," said the police.

Thachattuthara Jaya (38) of Kuzhippilly at Cheruvypu East, sustained serious injuries in the attack, including fractures to three ribs and damage to lungs. The assailants, who had hired her vehicle at night, also robbed Jaya of her mobile phone. The assault occurred near Chathangad beach around 10 pm on Monday. Doctors said Jaya was assaulted with a blunt and heavy object.

On Monday evening, a man arrived in a bus and hired Jaya’s auto from the stand at Pallathamkulangara in Kuzhuppilly to go to a nearby hospital. The man claimed he was visiting a relative undergoing treatment there. However, upon reaching the hospital, the man claimed the patient had been shifted to the Medical College Hospital at Kalamassery and requested Jaya to take him there. Meanwhile, two other men also boarded the auto from the Kuzhuppilly hospital.

During the journey to Kalamassery, the passengers requested Jaya to stop the auto at several places. The men continued to travel in Jaya’s auto while returning from the Kalamassery hospital as well. Upon reaching Chathangad, the passengers instructed Jaya to head to the beach, claiming they had parked their two-wheeler there.

But after reaching their destination, the three men launched a brutal assault on Jaya, who cried out loudly for help. Residents of the area rushed to the scene upon hearing the cries and found Jaya with grievous injuries. However, the men fled the scene before help arrived.