PUDUKKOTTAI: A psychopath who had been at large, targeting lone women in the districts of Pudukkottai, Sivaganga and Tiruchy and indulged in sexual assault, loot and murder was arrested by the special police on Wednesday and produced at the court. The police also recovered 58 gm of gold jewellery from him.
Addressing the press at Pudukkottai, Inspector General of Police, (Central Zone) Karan Singha said on April 9, police found the body of Anjalai (18), daughter of Raman of South Thalampatti near Namanasamudram, Pudukkottai district from the woods. Subsequently, Vallikannu (38), wife of Ganesan of Kottaikaranpatti near Viralimalai in Pudukkottai was found dead. She was sexually harassed and then strangled to death.
The very next day on June 6, Muthammal (49), wife of Muthusamy was fatally strangled when she was picking woods at the Chozhampatti Kanmoi in Sivaganga district. The next incident was reported on June 14 when Lakshmi (30), wife of Arumugam was found dead. She was also strangled with a string when she was picking cotton at North Idayapatti near Manapparai in Tiruchy district.
The chain of murders got extended with the death of Karuppayi (70), wife of Adaikkalam of Thenipatti. The woman was found lying in a semi-conscious state and was taken to Thanjavur hospital where she succumbed. The same day, Tiruvayi (40), wife of Veeraiya was a victim of strangulation while on way to the oorani east of Puthambur to fetch water.
All the above incidents spread over a period of three months was posing a challenge to the department.
Subsequently on the advice of DIG (Tiruchy Range) M Ramasubramani and under the supervision of Pudukkottai SP P Murthy, Keeranur inner division DSP K Kaliyamurthy led two special teams and took up intensive investigations. The only evidence the police found from all the places where the crime was reported were different kinds of strings. Later some people mentioned that they saw a moped near the crime scene.
On July 10, Maheswari, wife of Ravichandran of Ayipatti near Natham in Dindigul district raised an alarm when an attempt was made to strangle her. The assailant left his moped on the spot and sped away.
When the special team reached the spot and searched the area, they identified the murderer as Kuppusamy (36), son of Velu of Konnaiyampatti near Ponnamaravathy, Pudukkottai district. After grilling, Kuppusamy confessed to the murder of six women after sexually assaulting them and the murder of Chellammal (70) and Silambayi, after outraging their modesty. It also came to light that the last two cases were cremated by the kin as natural death without informing the police. Police also recovered Rs 70,000 worth of jewellery (53 gm) from a shop in Ponnamaravathy.
Since the investigation was still on, it would not be possible to ascertain whether Kuppusamy was involved in other cases as well, said IG Karan Singha.
Police personnel who were instrumental in the detection were rewarded.
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