Man kills father-in-law to avenge death of brother-in-law, held

A 42-year-old man was hacked to death by two men – including his son-in-law — in full public view near Kundrathur on Thursday. The police suspect that he could have murdered in revenge for the killing of a DMK functionary a year ago.

The deceased Babu alias Pogabathi Babu was a 42-year-old resident of Periyar Nagar and was the main accused in the murder of former ward councillor Girirajan. Babu had been detained under Goondas Act in the murder case and was released a month ago. He had been absconding since then.

While the police had also been searching for him — as he was to appear in the station regularly as per the bail conditions — they received information on Thursday that Babu has been murdered by Girirajan’s relatives. The murder happened around 1.30 pm at Periyar Nagar. He had been brutally hacked and mutilated, said the police.

His body was retrieved and sent to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. After the preliminary inquiry, the police zeroed in on a Mohan and his unidentified friend as suspects for the murder and have launched a hunt for them.

The police said that Mohan is Babu’s son-in-law. And Girirajan had gotten Mohan married to Babu’s daughter. Babu, however, did not approve of the match. Infuriated over the issue, last year on September 30, Babu had allegedly killed Girirajan, who also happened to be the husband of Mohan’s sister. On Thursday Mohan seems to have killed Babu for revenge.