Schoolmate, kin held for killing student in hostel

Police said the deceased inmate of the hostel P Venkatesh (17) was about to take dinner, when he was called from outside by his schoolmate Sundar (17) and his relative Selvam (24). Once Venkatesh came out from the room, he was attacked with sickles by the duo leaving him dead on the spot. 

Investigations revealed that Venkatesh and Sundar fell in love with a girl studying in the government higher secondary school.  This led to enmity between them. Both of them often indulged in heated quarrel inside and outside the school campus. Enraged after a similar confrontation on Friday, Sundar and his kin Selvam hatched a conspiracy and murdered Venkatesh. They were said to be in inebriated condition. Tirunelveli Junction police launched a search for the duo and arrested them on Saturday morning when they visited their house to pack clothes to escape to a different town and are investigating. 

The deceased Venkatesh is from Padugaiyar village near Vallanadu in Thoothukudi district and the accused are from Azhaganeri.