Six months on, army man held for wife’s murder

Police said that Perumal (35) of K Valsai village near Gudiyattam was married to Ranjini (28). Perumal, who was posted in Gujarat, used to regularly insist Ranjini to come with him and quarrel with her over the issue. 

In July last year, Perumal came on leave and demanded Ranjini to come with him to Gujarat. When she refused, Perumal suspected her fidelity. 

On July 10, he had told his neighbours that his wife had committed suicide by hanging. Police, who arrived on the scene, recorded his version and registered it as a case of suicide. Perumal then returned  to work in Gujarat. But Ranjini’s mother, who was not convinced with Perumal’s claims, lodged a police complaint, stating that her daughter was murdered. Following this, police asked Perumal to appear for an inquiry. 

During interrogations no Wednesday, Perumal admitted to having killed his wife by strangulating her with a rope. The army man said that he murdered ranjini after she refused to heed his request despite repeated requests to move with him to Gujarat. He then hung her body in the house to make it appear like a suicide. Perumal has been arrested and remanded to custody.