A 22-year-old woman was found dead on the sands of Elliot’s Beach in the early hours of Monday.
The police said she was strangulated, and suspect the role of the woman’s former boyfriend in the killing.
The deceased was identified as Nitya Vijayakumar, a canteen employee at Cancer Institute, Adyar. She had been in a relationship with a co-worker, Ezhumalai (27) of Puducherry, who worked as a tea-master and cook.
“Ezhumalai was extremely possessive of Nitya, who was a cheerful girl, much liked by her co-workers. Five months ago, he assaulted her after arguing over her talking to other men at work. Thereafter, the couple separated and Nitya stopped going to work,” said an investigating officer.
Nitya rejoined work a few days ago, and Ezhumalai tried to get back with her. “The two decided to meet on Elliot’s Beach, behind the Governor’s guesthouse, and Nitya seems to have reached there around 7 p.m. The next day, around 5 a.m., some walkers found her lying on the beach with her dupatta tightened around her neck,” said the officer.
Ezhumalai is absconding and a special team investigating the murder case has launched a manhunt.