Idukki: In a shocking incident, a woman battling cancer was tied up, gagged, and robbed at her home in Vivekananda Nagar, Adimali, on Thursday morning. The victim, Kalarickal Usha Santhosh, had just returned home after a chemotherapy session when an unidentified intruder broke into her house around 7 am.

The assailant tied her to the bed, stuffed cloth into her mouth, and fled with ₹16,500—money that had been donated by locals for her ongoing cancer treatment. Usha, who has been undergoing treatment for six years, was resting when the brutal incident took place.

The crime was discovered when neighbours, sensing something amiss, checked in and found her bound and in distress. A complaint has been lodged at the Adimali police station, and an investigation is underway.

The incident has sparked outrage in the locality, with many expressing anguish over the cruelty inflicted upon a helpless, financially struggling patient. Authorities are examining leads to identify and apprehend the culprit.