Missing person case turns out to be murder, victim’s wife and two daughters arrested in Pudukottai after several days

A missing person case booked in Namanasamudram police station in Pudukottai district recently has turned out to be a case of murder over a month ago at Mallankudi village in Thirumayam taluk.

The police gave the name of the murdered man as Palanivel, 55, of Mallankudi village. The police arrested Palanivel’s wife Mahalakshmi, 45, and their two daughters Tamizhselvi, 25, and Saradha, 20, on Thursday on charges of murdering him and burying the body in front of their house.

The decomposed body was exhumed on Thursday and a spot post mortem was done. Palanivel, a carpenter, had not been well for several years with skin infection and did not go for employment. Mahalakshmi was taking care of the family by working as a labourer. 

Police sources said a quarrel broke out between the couple on different occasions after Palanivel began to allegedly suspect his wife’s fidelity. This caused trauma to Mahalakshmi. The woman and her daughters decided to eliminate Palanivel. He was allegedly strangulated to death using ropes over a month ago and the body was buried in front of the house. 

Sources said after sometime one of the daughters called her father’s elder sister over phone informing her about the sudden death of Palanivel and the burial of his body. Soon, Mahalakshmi and her daughters fled the village. This raised suspicion in the mind of Palanivel’s sister who lodged a complaint with the Namanasamudram police seeking a probe after she received conflicting versions.

A man missing case was registered initially by the police who launched a probe. and were reported to be absconding. The police picked them up from another district. Mahalakshmi reportedly confessed to the crime, the sources said and added that the case was altered as that of murder.