.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Three weeks after TNM reported the imprisonment of a 65-year-old woman who killed her son to protect her granddaughter from sexual abuse, the woman is set to be released on bail. The Superintendent of police for Sivaganga district, T Jayachandran, has told us that the bail order will be passed on Friday evening.
On September 18, Devi's* alcoholic son had entered their home in Sakkavayal village and misbehaved with his 19-year-old daughter. This was not the first time that the 47-year-old was attempting to sexually abuse the girl. And when she resisted, he attacked her with a wooden log. According to the granddaughter, Devi was unable to watch this assault any longer and so she picked up a sickle and hacked her own son to death.
Investigating officers had then told TNM that the law required them to jail the murderer, even if she was only trying to save her granddaughter.
TNM however, pointed out that in such cases, section 100 of IPC can be invoked. As per the section, if a death is caused in the process of 'Private defence’ (to prevent or escape rape or murder), the person need not be tried for murder.
Following this, the SP assured us that he will consult legal officers to ensure Devi's release.
"The family had applied for bail and it came up in the Sessions court today. We have said that there is no objection to it and the order will be passed in the evening," says the Sivaganga SP. "As for altering the sections, we are in consultation with legal officers. We will see to it that the change is made," he adds.
Devi's family breathed a sigh of relief when informed of the developments. "We have been suffering since she has been gone. We had nobody. Thank god," says a relative over phone.