Mobile phone alert lands murderers in jail

The accused Manikkam (32), Raja (38) and Kishore, auto drivers of Captain Sasikumar Nagar in Perungalathur, became the victim Parveen Banu’s friends after she moved to the locality in June 2015 and allegedly helped her run flesh trade. They allegedly killed her in November 2016, after their relationship turned sour and dumped her body at a farm well in Perungalathur. Since her body was tied to a stone, it remained untraceable for over a year, said police.

Parveen Banu’s husband Ilayaraja had filed a complaint at Velliyani police in Karur district in 2015 that her wife went missing after fighting with him due to differences. It was an inter-religious marriage and they have two children. While Velliyani police were struggling without any lead in the case, on Friday they got an alert from Cyber Crime wing that her mobile which remained switched off for 2 years has been turned on.

After police tracked the phone to Perungalthur in Peerkankaranai police limit, a team of officials rushed to the city the same day and apprehended Manikkam and Raja with the help of local police. During interrogation, the duo initially said that Parveen Banu vacated the rented premises in 2016 and left the phone with them.

However, on further grilling, they admitted to having killed her for her valuables after she dumped them. Since Parveen had already told them of her past, they did not switch on the phone for more than a year fearing that police could trace them. However, they would not have expected that the phone would land them in jail on Friday.

Based on their confession, Parveen’s body was retrieved from the well and sent to Chromepet government hospital for post-mortem. Police said that only a DNA test will confirm whether it was Parveen’s remains. Police have also arrested the duo’s friend Kishore, who gave him the idea to dump her in the well.