Man held for killing wife and head constable in Vellore over family dispute

A 45-year-old autorickshaw driver was arrested by Gudiyatham town police in Vellore on Friday for murdering his wife, a head constable who was on duty, over a family dispute.

The police identified the arrested person as K. Aravindan, 45, a resident of Erthangal village near Gudiyatham town.

The couple Aravindan and Thamarai Selvi, 41, had two sons and lived in Erthangal village.

The police said the couple had been quarreling over a share in Aravindan’s ancestral property. As a result, Thamarai Selvi was living with her children at her mother’s house in the same village for the past two months. She refused to return to Aravindan’s house before the property issue was settled.

The police said that in July this year, Aravindan’s brother and family had given a petition at the Office of Superintendent of Police about threats from Thamarai Selvi over property share. An inquiry into the allegations is also under way.

Thamarai Selvi was on duty in Erthangal village near town when Aravindan told her that he wanted to discuss the family dispute. The police said that she went with him near a lake where a heated argument broke out. In a fit of rage, Aravindan allegedly stabbed her on the neck with a pair of scissors. She collapsed in a pool of blood on the spot. He also inflicted injuries upon himself, police said.

Passersby saw the injured couple and alerted the ambulance. They also informed Gudiyatham police. Thamarai Selvi was declared dead by doctors at Government Taluk Hospital in Gudiyatham town. Aravindan was shifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore town for treatment. A case was registered. A probe is under way.