Accused in Perungalathur case not aware of lover’s death

Prashanth (24), who is now under police custody, had surrendered at the Peerkankaranai police station after slitting the throat of Soniya (23) with a razor at Perungalathur bus stand on Thursday evening. “During questioning, he had threatened to kill himself if she was dead. For now, we have told him that she had escaped with minor injuries,” said an investigating officer privy to the case. 

Police say that Prashanth had loved Soniya sincerely and was disappointed when she began ‘avoiding him’. Police expect to break the news to him soon as he is convicted of IPC 302 (murder) but fear that the repercussion could be adverse. On Thursday evening, Soniya, who worked in the sales department of a private milk company, was waiting at Perungalathur bus stand when Prashanth walked up to her. 

After a confrontation, he took out a razor and slit her throat. Even as Soniya collapsed to the ground, Prashanth left the spot and surrendered at the Peerkankaranai police station. Onlookers called for an ambulance and rushed Soniya to the Government Chrompet Hospital but she did not survive. Soniya and Prashanth lived in the same locality at Karumariamman Koil in Nedunkundram and have been in a relationship for the past six years. 

“Following a quarrel, Sonia has been avoiding Prashanth for the past two months. However, he continued to love her. Recently Prashanth learnt about a new friend Sonia had at her work place,” the official said. On Thursday, Prashanth saw the two riding a bike at Tambaram and began following them. Sonia got dropped at Tambaram bus stand from where she took a bus to Perungalathur bus stand. Moments later, Prashanth confronted her and slit her throat,” the official added. 

A police source said both the families, belonging to the same community, were aware of the relationship. Prashanth, who had completed diploma in mechanical engineering worked for a private company in Urapakkam. However, he was not regular to work or serious about a career because of which the girl’s family opposed the marriage.