A 21-year-old six-month pregnant woman was allegedly strangled to death at her husband’s house in Indira Nagar near Mettupatti in Pudukkottai district. Six persons, including her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, have been arrested in connection with the murder.
The deceased, Sandhya, was married to Pandidurai about a year ago. Pandidurai, who works at a private company in Erode, had left for Erode on September 29.
On September 30, Sandhya was taken to Pudukkottai Government Medical College Hospital by her relatives, who claimed that she had suddenly fallen ill while eating. Doctors, however, found that she had died on the way to the hospital.
A postmortem examination revealed injuries on her neck indicating that she had been strangled. Following this, Ganesh Nagar police intensified their investigation.
According to police, Sandhya was allegedly strangled with a dupatta and smothered with a pillow while she was lying in a room. The television volume was reportedly increased to prevent the sound from being heard outside.
Police said the accused subsequently attempted to make the death appear to have resulted from a sudden health complication.
The arrested persons have been identified as Sandhya’s mother-in-law Banumathi (46), sisters-in-law Pandimeena (33) and Porkodi (29), relative Kanimozhi (27), father-in-law’s sister Selvi (38) and Selvi’s son Karthik (24).
Police said the murder was linked to an earlier family dispute involving Sandhya and her husband’s sisters. The six accused were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
