Closed circuit television (CCTV) visuals proved crucial in identifying suspects in the murders of Manju Devi (48) in Choolai and Hemavathi (49) in Kolathur last week.
Devi was murdered by her husband Hemraj Jain. Hemavathi was killed by her nephew after she refused him money.
On Monday, Additional Commissioner (South) Abhash Kumar said Hemraj murdered his wife after an argument. “The couple was not on good terms and a disagreement over preparations for their son’s upcoming wedding enraged Hemraj. He killed her and took away jewellery to make it look like a robbery,” Mr. Kumar said.
CCTV grabs obtained from cameras installed nearby in a school and an apartment complex opposite their house showed Hemraj reaching his home and leaving with a bag after 30 minutes.
Similarly, in the Kolathur murder case too, a CCTV camera placed in a shop near the victim’s home captured suspect Rajendran (32) walking away after killing his aunt Hemavathi and robbing her gold jewels.
City Police Commissioner S. George termed most murders as ‘crimes of passion.’ “Except a few cases, the rest of the murders were committed by family members. There are no criminal gangs involved except for petty thieves in the Choolaimedu case, where an 87-year-old man was murdered,” Mr. George added.