A murder accused out on bail was allegedly burnt to death by his victim’s mother-in-law for teasing and taunting her, near Panruti on Tuesday. Ganesan (52) had allegedly killed Rajkumar a few months ago and was out on bail when the incident occurred.
The flashpoint came when Ganesan was passing by a cashew grove at Velankuppam near Panruti on his bike and spotted Rajakumar’s mother-in-law Rajalakshmi and three others working there. He allegedly hurled invectives at Rajalakshmi, the police said.
“Ganesan, who hails from Periyakattupalayam, and Rajkumar were jointly into cattle trade, but later fell out. Ganesan then took Rajkumar to Parangipettai and killed him a few months ago. We arrested Ganesan and slapped murder charges on him. However, he recently secured bail,” police sources said.
Describing the sequence of events on Tuesday, sources said: “While Ganesan was riding his bike, he spotted the women near Velankuppam grove, got off his bike and picked up a quarrel with them. He then left. On his way back on the same route, the angry women intercepted and attacked him using agricultural tools. They then doused him in kerosene and set him alight. He died on the spot. Meanwhile, a man who was riding pillion on his bike, fled and informed the police about the incident.”
Apart from Rajalakshmi, the police also booked Shanti, Indira and Poongkodi in connection with the murder.