TIRUNELVELI: Seven persons have been arrested for allegedly hacking a 34-year-old man to death and dumping his body in the Thamirabarani river near Karuppanthurai in Tirunelveli district, police said.

One more suspect is absconding. The deceased was identified as Raja (34), a daily wage labourer from Karuppanthurai. He had gone to the river for a bath on Monday but did not return home. His body, with severe head injuries, was recovered from the river near Melanatham two days later.

Following this, Santhippu police registered a case and began an investigation. Police said Raja was attacked after an argument with a group of men near the river. The accused allegedly assaulted him, killed him, and later disposed of the body in the river.

During the investigation, police found that some of the accused were linked to a 2023 murder case and were out on bail. Police arrested Siva (20), Marimuthu (22), Karan Yosuva (22), Nambi, Dharan, Isakkimuthu, and another person. The main suspect, Gautham, remains at large and is being searched for.