Overwhelmed by support from Chennaiites: Techie’s sister

As she is making gradual progress at the hospital, the family believes that the worst is over for her – and them.

”Doctors made her walk on Friday. Apart from the cut injury on her face, her left thumb has also been severely infected. Doctors have also begun counselling to make her come out of the trauma soon,” Nisha, the eldest of the siblings, told DT Next on Saturday.  

After earning computer science degree, Lavanya went to the UK for higher education and worked there briefly before returning. She worked in Hyderabad and moved to Chennai less than two years ago. 

“Though my family has been living in Chennai since 2012, Lavanya wanted to be independent. She rented a house close to her office,” Nisha said. Right from childhood, Lavanya was brave and independent, and a go-getter. “If she wanted something, she would fight for it. But she is also kind-hearted, putting others’ interests before hers. We had just started looking for grooms for her. We told her that the worst is over, and there would only be good things in her life ahead,” said Nisha. 

Even as they were dealt with a rude shock, the family was left overwhelmed by support pouring in, from police, hospital staff, her colleagues and Chennaiites. “Andhra Pradesh CM’s secretary got in touch to know if we needed any assistance. But we told them it is not necessary. Chennai police did a great job, without even sleeping from that day. Her colleagues were supportive throughout and doctors were very kind. Even though we are from another state, everyone here was truly concerned,” said Nisha. When she managed to speak, Lavanya told Nisha that her attackers should not be spared. “I was brave enough to fight with them, but what if some feeble-hearted women were caught by them? The punishment should be a lesson for others,” Nisha quoted Lavanya as saying. 

It was a trap that helped police nab the suspects involved in the mugging and robbery of the woman techie near Thazhambur off OMR.

During probe, police found that two history-sheeters in the neighbourhood, Vinayagamoorthy and Logesh, were missing. Suspecting that they could have a role in the crime, the police teams, led by Additional Commissioner MC Sarangan, set up a trap. 

As part of it, the personnel were withdrawn from Semmenchery to let the accused in. Before long, police received a tip-off as expected, informing them that the accused were hiding in Navalur. 

An identification parade would be conducted after Lavanya was discharged from the hospital.  It was Vinayagamoorthy, working as ticket seller in a movie theatre near Karapakkam, who attacked Lavanya with a machete, police said. Him and Logesh are already accused in the murder of a north Indian in 2016, in which the victim was attacked in a similar manner. The suspects would be charged with attempted murder during investigation, police said.