Intimate Photo Triggers Fatal Attack in Coimbatore Hostel
A horrific crime unfolded in the heart of Coimbatore on Sunday morning, resulting in the brutal murder of a 30-year-old woman inside a working women's hostel. The police have identified the victim as Sri Priya and the accused as her estranged husband, 32-year-old Balamurugan from Tirunelveli.
Marital Discord and a New Relationship
According to police reports, the couple had been experiencing marital problems for some time. Four months ago, Priya left her husband and moved to Coimbatore, where she took up employment at a bag shop on Cross Cut Road. Their two children—a 10-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter—remained in Balamurugan's custody.
During her stay at the working women's hostel on Raja Naidu Street near Gandhipuram, Priya reportedly entered into a relationship with Isakki Raja, a married man with three children who is also a distant relative of her husband.
The Provocation and the Plea
The situation escalated dramatically over the weekend. On Saturday, Balamurugan travelled to Coimbatore and met with Priya, pleading with her to end the affair and return to their family. She refused his request.
Upon learning about this meeting, Isakki Raja allegedly sent Balamurugan an intimate photograph of himself with Priya. Police officials stated that this act was the direct trigger for the violent outburst that followed.
A Brutal Murder and a Chilling Aftermath
On Sunday morning, Balamurugan arrived at the hostel in an inebriated state. A heated argument ensued between him and Priya. In a fit of rage, he pulled out a sickle from his bag and hacked her to death.
When officers from the Rathinapuri police station arrived at the scene, they found Balamurugan sitting beside his wife's body. In a shocking and gruesome act, the accused had even taken a selfie with the deceased and posted it as his WhatsApp status. The image was accompanied by the message: "payment for betrayal is death."
The police recovered the body and sent it for postmortem to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital. Balamurugan was immediately arrested, produced before a court, and remanded to judicial custody.
This tragic incident highlights the extreme consequences of marital disputes and the dangerous role of provocation through digital means. The investigation is ongoing.
