Chennai: In a spine-chilling case, a PhD scholar and her lover allegedly hacked a 43-year-old man to death by repeatedly attacking him with knives in broad daylight in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as J Desapriya (26), a Physics research scholar in a private educational institution in Kalavakkam, and her boyfriend S Arun Pandian (27), who is a research scholar at a university located in Kattankulathur. According to the police, the two killed one K Senthil (43), who was a worker of a university in Kattankulathur. Senthil’s persistent desire to get married to Desapriya led to the crime.
According to the police, Senthil and Desapriya knew each other since the time the latter was pursuing her graduate studies at the university in Kattankulathur. She cut ties with him after she learnt that he was married. Senthil, however, continued stalking her. He insisted that she tie the nuptial knot with her. He told her he would inform his wife that he was forced to solemnize marriage with her since they’ve been childless for around seven years, a report published by The Times of India stated.
“When Desapriya started to avoid him during the lockdown, Senthil threatened her saying he would upload their old photos online,” TOI quoted an investigating officer as saying. She then apprised Arun of the matter. Following this, the two plotted to eliminate Senthil.
On Thursday afternoon, Desapriya asked Senthil to meet her at her college. They were joined by Arun while they were having a conversation. Citing eyewitnesses, the police stated that an altercation flared up. Subsequently, Desapriya and Arun slit the throat of Senthil who then tried to flee on his motorcycle. Desapriya and Arun, however, chased him down and then repeatedly attacked him using two knives, leading to injuries that resulted in his death on the spot. Both accused were nabbed by bystanders and later handed over to the cops.