Chennai: A 40-year-old woman and a history-sheeter have been arrested for hiring a gang to break her estranged husband’s leg for ₹4 lakh near Peerkankaranai. The attack happened in connection with a dispute regarding custody of their son.Damodharan, 42, of Vengambakkam near Tambaram, was living with his 11-year-old son after separating from his wife, Vasantha, 40, around six years ago. According to police, Vasantha left her husband and married an auto-rickshaw driver, with whom she was residing in Orathur.Investigators said Vasantha repeatedly sought custody of her son, but Damodharan refused to send the child with her. Police suspect the dispute over the boy led to the attack.Two months before the incident, Damodharan received a phone call from an unidentified person claiming that a parcel had arrived for him, and asking for his address. Believing the caller, he shared his residential details.On April 19, two youths arrived at his house on a motorcycle and lured him outside. Within seconds, they pushed him to the ground and repeatedly struck his right leg with an iron rod before fleeing. Damodharan sustained a fracture and was admitted to the Tambaram Govt Hospital.Based on a complaint, Peerkankaranai police registered a case and traced the motorcycle used in the attack. Their investigation led to the arrest of Bharat, 19, and Augustine, 19, both from Chennai.Further interrogation revealed that the duo was paid ₹1.2 lakh by Ponmani, 32, a history-sheeter from Kilpauk. Police later arrested Ponmani, who told cops that Vasantha had approached him and negotiated a deal for ₹4 lakh to have Damodharan’s legs broken. He reportedly received ₹3.5 lakh as advance payment for arranging the assault. Following the confession, police arrested Vasantha.