Parking dispute turns fatal: Man stabs to death two elderly brothers in Tirunelveli

CHENNAI: A parking dispute near a family temple in Tirunelveli Town turned fatal after a 40-year-old welder allegedly stabbed two elderly men to death in broad daylight, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

The deceased have been identified as Dalton (76) and his brother Nicholas Rajaratnam (78), both residents of Manipuram in Tirunelveli Town.

According to police, the accused, Senthilkumar, a welder working in Chennai, had come to his native village on vacation. He allegedly got into an argument with Dalton’s son Naren over parking a car near the temple.

When Nicholas Rajaratnam intervened to stop the quarrel, Senthilkumar allegedly stabbed him multiple times with a knife he had concealed. Hearing his screams, Dalton rushed to the spot and was also allegedly stabbed repeatedly.

Naren, who tried to stop the attack, was also injured. Senthilkumar sustained injuries to his hands during the incident.

Dalton was rushed to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Nicholas was taken to a private hospital near Nellai Junction but died despite treatment.

Senthilkumar and the injured Naren were also admitted to the government hospital and are undergoing treatment.

Police said Dalton and Senthilkumar had reportedly had frequent disputes over parking near the family temple. Dalton ran a petrol pump in the area. The four members of the two families had returned to their hometown after working in Kuwait and live in separate houses within the same compound.

Following the double murder, Tirunelveli Municipal Police Commissioner Deshmukh Shekhar Sanjay, Deputy Commissioner (East) Saravanan and Inspector Senthil Thangadurai visited the spot and conducted an inquiry.

Police are examining whether the murders were linked to the previous parking disputes or whether there were other reasons. CCTV footage from the area is also being collected as part of the investigation.