Madurai: The suspicious death of an 18-year-old girl, who was found hanging at her house in Kayathar, Tuticorin district, has been revealed as a murder committed by her brother and mother over her alleged relationship with a man from Salem district. Police have arrested the brother and mother, denying claims of caste killing.
Victim Identified
The deceased was identified as Abi Selvi, 18, from South Mayilodai village. According to police sources, Kayathar police received information on June 9 that Selvi had allegedly died by suicide by hanging. Police rushed to the spot, recovered the body, and sent it to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem. A case was registered and investigation began.
Investigation Reveals Injuries
During the investigation, preliminary postmortem findings revealed injuries on her body, raising suspicion. Further investigation showed that Selvi had become acquainted with a man from Salem through social media and was in a relationship with him.
Murder Confession
Police discovered that Selvi's brother Sivagnanam, 20, and mother Esther Pauline, 36, murdered her following a quarrel over her relationship. When questioned, they confessed. Sivagnanam admitted to strangling Selvi, with Pauline as an accomplice. Based on their confession, police arrested the mother-son duo late Wednesday. They were subsequently remanded in judicial custody.
No Caste Angle
Senior police officials denied claims that the murder was a caste killing. In a statement, Tuticorin district police said there is no evidence to substantiate a caste angle based on the investigation so far. They added that information circulating on social media alleging a caste killing is false and unverified.
