Man stabs sister-in-law to death after dispute

A 26-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her brother-in-law, following a quarrel over remarks she had made about his wife, at Irulanjery near Kadambathur, in Tiruvallur district, recently. The accused later surrendered before the police.

The deceased has been identified as Shanti, 26, wife of Ilayaraja, 30, a driver employed at a private factory. The couple lived in a joint family with Ilayaraja’s younger brother Isaimēgam, 28, and his wife Lavanya, who were married four months ago.

Police said frequent disputes had been occurring between Shanti and Lavanya over household responsibilities, as Shanti was managing most of the domestic work. On the night of the incident, when Ilayaraja was away from home, Shanti allegedly spoke harshly about Lavanya for not sharing household chores. Enraged by the remarks about his wife and allegedly under the influence of alcohol, Isaimēgam reportedly picked up a vegetable-cutting knife from the kitchen and stabbed Shanti repeatedly on the chest, chin and hands.

Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed to the house and found Shanti lying in a pool of blood. She was immediately taken to  Primary Health Centre, Perambakkam where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

On receiving information, Mappedu police recovered the body and sent it to the Tiruvallur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. A case was registered, and while police were searching for the accused, Isaimēgam surrendered at the Mappedu police station the same night.