TIRUNELVELI: A 20-year-old welder was strangled to death allegedly by his brother-in-law and the latter’s friend, and the duo dumped the corpse at a water-filled pit in an abandoned stone quarry in Melapattam near Palayamkottai on Thursday. The Tirunelveli Taluk police identified the deceased as M Perumal (20), a welder from Nellai Thiruthu area. The prime suspect -- Vellapandi (27) was married to Perumal’s sister, Sudha. Vellpandi was recently released on bail in a two-wheeler theft case.
According to sources, frequent quarrels between Vellapandi and Sudha had strained the relations between him and Perumal. Sources said that on Thursday, Vellapandi allegedly called Perumal to meet him to settle the dispute. Perumal went along with him and Vellapandi’s friend Madhubalan (22). As the three were allegedly drinking near the quarry pit, a quarrel broke out. In a fit of rage, Vellapandi allegedly strangled Perumal with his lungi and, with Madhubalan’s help, dumped the body into the water-filled pit. Upon receiving information, Tirunelveli Taluk police arrested two suspects.