Kochi, 01 Nov (H.S.):

A 78-year-old woman died after allegedly being kicked and brutally assaulted by her son during an argument over money for alcohol at their home in Fort Kochi’s Amaravathi locality on Saturday night, police said.

The deceased was identified as Lakshmi. Her son, Kannan, 58, was arrested by the Fort Kochi police the same night in connection with the incident.

According to police, Kannan returned home in an intoxicated condition and demanded money from his mother to purchase more liquor. When Lakshmi refused to give him the money, an argument broke out between them.

Police said the confrontation escalated into a physical assault, during which Kannan allegedly kicked and severely beat his elderly mother. Lakshmi was taken to a hospital and provided treatment, but efforts to save her life were unsuccessful.

Investigators also cited resentment over a household gas cylinder as another factor behind the attack. According to police, Kannan was angry with his mother for giving the cylinder to his brother.

The dispute over the cylinder formed part of the background to the violence, while the immediate confrontation followed Lakshmi’s refusal to meet his demand for money to buy more alcohol, police said.

The alleged attack took place inside the family home at Amaravathi. The information available did not specify who took Lakshmi to the hospital or the exact time at which she died.

Police identified Kannan as the accused and confirmed that he had been taken into custody on Saturday night. Further details regarding the charges invoked against him were not immediately available.

The police account centres on the demand for liquor money and the earlier disagreement involving the gas cylinder. Details of Lakshmi’s injuries, the duration of her treatment and any statements from witnesses were not available in the initial information released about the fatal assault.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman