In a case involving the murder of a 40-year-old man whose body was found buried in farmland at Germalam in the Thalavadi Hills, the police on Thursday (November 20, 2025) arrested the victim’s friend for the crime.
On Sunday, cattle grazers in Chikkunchepalayam village, under the Hasanur police station limits, detected a foul smell emanating from the farmland owned by Senguttuvan of Erode. They also noticed that a portion of the land had been freshly dug and covered. The herders immediately alerted Subash Kumar, Village Administrative Officer of Thingalur (A), who subsequently lodged a complaint with the Hasanur police.
When the pit was excavated, a decomposed male body was recovered. Sathyamangalam Tahsildar Jamuna Rani, DSP Mutharasu and a medical team from the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, conducted a post-mortem examination, which revealed severe head injuries.
Three special teams formed to investigate the murder identified the victim as Selvam, a daily-wage labourer from L. Kallipatti near Gobichettipalayam. Police said Selvam had been working in the Germalam hill area for the past few months and was known to wander around under the influence of alcohol.
Investigations revealed that Selvam had consumed alcohol with his friends shortly before the incident. A quarrel broke out , during which he was fatally assaulted. His body was later buried in the farmland.
Police detained his friend Bomman (45) of Kadaganalli, who, during interrogation, confessed to the murder and burial. He was arrested. Officials said further investigation is under way to determine whether anyone else was involved in the crime.
Published – November 20, 2025 05:34 pm IST
