A shocking case of domestic violence has emerged from Nilambur, where a 28-year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death by her mother-in-law after a quarrel at home on Monday morning.
Dispute turns deadly
The victim, Rajila, wife of Sunil Babu, was attacked at her residence in Koottampara near Nilambur. According to police, the accused, 70-year-old Shanta, allegedly assaulted her daughter-in-law with a machete following an argument reportedly over serving tea.
Authorities said the dispute began as a routine domestic disagreement but escalated rapidly into violence. During the altercation, Shanta allegedly picked up the sharp weapon—commonly used in rural households for daily chores—and attacked Rajila multiple times, causing critical injuries.
Children witness the attack
Police confirmed that Rajila’s young children were present in the house at the time of the incident. They reportedly attempted to intervene but were unable to stop the assault.
Hearing their cries, neighbours rushed to the house and shifted Rajila to a nearby hospital. However, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being admitted.
Accused taken into custody
Officials said Rajila’s husband was not at home when the incident occurred. The accused was taken into custody soon after the attack and formally arrested following initial questioning.
A case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to murder.
Investigation underway
Police stated that further investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and whether there had been prior disputes between the two.
Preliminary findings suggest that what began as a minor domestic issue escalated into a fatal act of violence, raising concerns over sudden domestic conflicts turning deadly.