Last Tuesday, January 9, was an extremely traumatic day for two local women who were brutally assaulted and sustained multiple stab wounds after a family member apparently attempted to murder them.
46 year old Anura Jagdish and her 24 year old daughter, Sharon, of Bengal Street, have had sleepless nights since that fateful day as they fear that the relative, who apparently attempted to end their lives, may return to complete what he started.
The perpetrator, a close relative who lives in the outbuilding on their property, has been arrested and charged for the incident.
In an interview with the Laudium Sun, the victims gave a detailed account of what transpired on the day, indicating that they had suffered abuse at the hands of this family member for many years.
Anura’s daughter Sharon said, “It was about half three in the afternoon and I was at my friend's house just two doors away from our home, when my mother gave me a call to return home to do a prayer. When I entered the yard, I noticed that ‘he’ was standing at the entrance of the kitchen. As soon as I walked towards the door, he started swearing me,” the visibly shaken Sharon recalled.
“He followed me into the house and continued to harass me. My mother was in the house at the time and asked him to leave me alone, but he continued swearing me, saying that he was going to end my life and my mother's. His statement shocked me and made me extremely nervous. Then, to my utter disbelief, he suddenly pulled out two knives which he had in his pants and charged towards me.
“He grabbed my hair and banged my head against the drawer before stabbing me on my arm. My mother ran towards him and tried to pull him away from me. He then turned on her and started assaulting and stabbing her randomly all over her body. I tried to escape through the window but he grabbed hold of me and viciously pulled me back in. My mother was stabbed on her hands, back and shoulders,” the still visibly shaken daughter said, tearfully.
Sharon said that she eventually managed to escape through the window and ran to her friend's house, covered in blood.
Mom Anura related, “I managed to gather up some strength and picked myself up. He then ran into his room and brought out a sword. He walked out calling to people to fight with him.”
Sharon's friend, Prenisha Pillay, said that she had heard her friend calling out for help. “I immediately ran to her assistance and took her into my house. There was blood all over her body and she had stab wounds on her right arm. My family and I rushed Sharon and her mom to a nearby hospital for medical assistance. It is fortunate that both of them were not seriously hurt and were attended to by doctors who allowed them to leave the hospital the very same night,” she said, relieved.
Relative, Melvin Rangasamy (39), was arrested and appeared at the Atteridgeville Magistrates court last Wednesday (January 10). Apparently, he had other cases of assault that had been opened against him previously.
Melvin was unavailable for comment, at the time of going to press.
One of the stab wounds that Sharon sustained from the vicious attack.
Victim: Sharon Jagdish.
Accused: Melvin Rangasamy (39).