COIMBATORE: The Yercaud police arrested a 22-year-old youth, who strangled his paramour and disposed of her body in a sack by throwing it into a 600-foot-deep gorge in Yercaud in Salem district.

According to police, the deceased Sumathi (30), wife of Shanmugam (32), from Maramangalam village in Yercaud, had gone missing a few days ago, and a complaint was lodged on December 25. They married after being in love.

Even as investigations were under way, the accused Venkatesh handed over a parcel at a shop to be given to Shanmugam. Upon receiving and opening it, Shanmugam was shocked to find the ‘mangalsutra’ of his wife.

On suspicion, police picked up Venkatesh, who also hails from the same neighbourhood; inquiries revealed that he was in an affair with Sumathi. “While they were together on December 23, Sumathi received a phone call. As she refused to reveal details on the identity of the caller, Venkatesh broke into an argument and strangled her to death using her shawl,” police said.

He then tied and bundled her into a sack, before throwing her into a 600-foot deep gorge along the Yercaud-Kuppanur Road. A joint team of police and fire service personnel managed to recover the decomposed body after a search for about three hours on Sunday. The body has been sent for a post-mortem. The Yercaud police arrested Venkatesh, and further inquiries are under way.