A marital dispute led to the gory murder of seven persons in Kumarapuram near Sedapatti in Madurai district on Wednesday.
Pandeeswari (25) was married to Kannan (27) son of Velu, three and a half years ago. Due to differences between the couple, they separated.
Two days ago, the elders in the village attempted to resolve the differences.
As there appeared no compromise, the elders withdrew.
On Tuesday, there was a wordy altercation between Kannan and Pandeeswari.
Kannan went to the house of his parents for the night, where his sister and her children were also there. Around 2.30 a.m., Pandeeswari allegedly came to Kannan’s parents’ house, accompanied by her brother, and poured kerosene all over the place and locked the door from outside.
Her brother climbed the roof and removed the tiles, poured kerosene into the house and set it on fire. Within minutes, all the inmates, who were fast asleep, were charred to death beyond identity.
While six of them including Kannan, his father Velu (60), mother Petchiammal (55), sister Suganthi (32), sister’s children - Sangeetha (17), and Vineeth (13) died, Suganthi’s younger son Sangeeth (9), who suffered severe burns, but died a few hours after he was admitted to hospital.
Pandeeswari, who surrendered before the police, was arrested.
