Siblings kill elder brother over property dispute in Triplicane

The accused, Gnanavel (45) and Kandavel (37), were secured within minutes when they tried to flee after clubbing Sakthivel with an iron rod following an argument that erupted between them on Sunday morning. All three are fishermen, police said.

The house at Ayodhya Kuppam where the two brothers lived in with their families was bequeathed to Sakthivel as per the will left behind by their late father Ezhumalai. Police said all three were addicted to liquor. Sakthivel, who was unmarried, often quarrelled with his younger brothers under the influence of alcohol, asking them to vacate the house as he was its owner.

On Sunday morning, too, Sakthivel visited the house and argued with his brothers. Frustrated over this, the duo attacked Sakthivel with an iron rod, leaving him with injuries on his face and head. As Sakthivel collapsed on the spot, the duo fled from the spot.

Sakthivel’s mother Mallika rushed him to the nearby hospital. However, the doctors there declared him brought dead. On information, a team of personnel from Marina police station inspected the murder spot and secured the duo when they tried to flee.

Police sources said that the trio had already visited the police station several times over complaints about the property, but were let off with a warning as it was a domestic dispute.

Marina police arrested Gnanavel and Kandavel under murder charges and remanded them in judicial custody.