more-in Lavanya Jangath, the software engineer who survived an attack by robbers near Perumbakkam two weeks ago, said she fought her assailant valiantly to fend off his brutal attack on that fateful morning. Ms. Lavanya was attacked by robbers early last Tuesday when she was returning home on her two-wheeler near Arasan Kazhani on Perumbakkam-Thalambur road. The Pallikaranai police have arrested three persons who allegedly perpetrated the attack and robbed her valuables. The grievously injured woman was discharged from hospital three days ago and is now with her sister in Perumbakkam. In an exclusive interview, she narrated the ordeal she underwent, her concerns, and the lessons that she will take away. Brimming with confidence, she is certain she will go back to work soon. Several details about that traumatic experience, wildly speculated about, have finally emerged in the public realm. You work in a company located in Navalur, why did you choose to ride a bike on that lonely stretch so late at night? Being a senior quality analyst of Newt Global Technology, I was assigned client services. That evening, I had to go to their place at Olympia Tech Park in Guindy and they had only evening shifts. I completed their work and left at 11.30 p.m. after having something to eat. Though the client offered to drop me by cab, I had to turn this offer down since I had gone there on my own vehicle. Moreover, as I stay at an apartment complex in Siruseri, that is away from the main road, I depend on my two-wheeler to get in and out. I had to go the gym the next morning and so I needed my two-wheeler for that, and the decision was made. Was that your regular route home? That is not my regular route home. Just around the time I was reaching Perumbakkam, where my sister stays, three men started teasing and stalking me. So I strayed off the route. At Perumbakkam, I stopped my bike and shouted at the men that I would call the police if they didn’t stop following me. Despite that, they continued to follow me. I considered going to my sister’s place, but when I saw that the time was 12.20 a.m., I decided against it, as I did not want to disturb them. I decided to go to my flat in Siruseri, and noticed that the three men had stopped following me. Are you comfortable describing what happened next? I do not recall what exactly happened next. I just remember that someone stopped my vehicle on the Perumbakkam - Thalambur road at around 12.25 a.m. I was fighting with one man and was trying to punch him. He was trying to remove my bracelet but could not do it, and he injured my right hand very badly. Incensed that I was fighting back, he mercilessly hit me on my head and left, after taking my mobile phones and gold chain. He rode my bike away. Since I was lying on the ground and did not move, he probably left the place assuming I was dead. After he left, I shouted for help. Luckily, a tempo driver saw the incident and he called the police. How many persons were involved in the incident? The only thing I remember is that I did not give up easily and gave back a few punches. I remember fighting with one person, but may be there were two more who were his accomplices. From the incident, what lesson have you learned? We should be bold enough to fight such assaults, if they were to happen to us. I thank friends, relatives and the people of Tamil Nadu who prayed for my recovery. I am also thankful to Opposition Leader M.K. Stalin, Information Technology Minister M. Manikandan and City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan who visited me in hospital. I am recovering fast. Within 15 days, I am sure I will be able to attend office.

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