In a gruesome incident that has sparked widespread public outrage, a woman from Tirunelveli was brutally hacked to death by her estranged husband inside a women’s hostel in Coimbatore on Sunday.
The victim has been identified as Sripriya, who was employed at a private firm in Coimbatore. The accused is her husband, Balamurugan, from whom she had been living separately due to ongoing marital disputes. According to police, Balamurugan reached the women’s hostel on Sunday afternoon, pretending that he only wanted to meet her, while concealing a sickle inside his clothes.
Investigators said that shortly after the couple met, a heated argument erupted between them. In a sudden and frenzied attack, Balamurugan allegedly pulled out the sickle and hacked Sripriya to death inside the hostel premises. In a shocking development, police revealed that immediately after the murder, the accused took a selfie with the victim’s body and uploaded it as his WhatsApp status, accompanied by a message claiming that she had “betrayed” him.
As the brutal attack unfolded, terrified hostel residents fled the scene in panic. Balamurugan, however, made no attempt to escape and remained at the spot until police personnel arrived. He was arrested on the spot, and the sickle used in the crime was seized by the investigating team.
Also Read: Gujarat officer killed wife, kids; had affair with colleague
Preliminary enquiries indicate that Balamurugan suspected his wife of being in a relationship with another man, which appears to have been the trigger for the crime.
The daylight murder has further intensified the ongoing political controversy in Tamil Nadu regarding women’s safety. Opposition parties have sharply criticised the ruling DMK government, alleging a serious deterioration in law and order and a failure to safeguard women, citing a perceived increase in brutal crimes and sexual offences across the state.
The DMK government and the Tamil Nadu police, on their part, have described such incidents as isolated cases stemming from personal enmity, while asserting that prompt action is being taken in every instance to ensure swift justice and the imposition of the maximum punishment.
Also Read: 'I killed my wife for you', B'luru doctor messaged other women
Follow us
