Seven persons, including three women and two home guards, were arrested by the Chennai police here on Sunday in connection with the murder of Ambika, a 39-year-old self-help group team leader, last month.
Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police (West) K.Shankar said the murder was masterminded by the three women who, with Ambika's help, had obtained a loan of Rs.52 lakh from the Kancheepuram Central Cooperative Bank in Porur.
The accused women – Sumithra, Mala and Susila – took advantage of a fire on the bank's premises in October last year, in which most documents were destroyed, and planned not to repay the loan. But, Ambika insisted that the money be repaid. When the trio resisted, she demanded Rs.15 lakh in exchange for not exposing them. Mr.Shankar said that January 31 was the deadline set by Ambika.
“This was not acceptable to them and they planned to eliminate Ambika by hiring mercenaries,” he said.
An acquaintance of Sumithra, S. Annamuthu, was approached to do the job and he was promised Rs.50,000. Annamuthu, along with three of his associates, G.Rajkumar, K.Rajkumar and R.Deepan, murdered Ambika on January 24. As Annamuthu and G. Rajkumar were members of the Ambattur Unit Home Guards, they were in ‘khaki' uniform.
They asked Ambika to step out for an inquiry and slashed her throat even as her husband was making tea for the visitors in the kitchen, police said.
All the accused persons, the weapons used by them, their ‘khaki' uniform, and a motorcycle have been seized, Mr.Shankar said.
He added that the newly-formed Special Homicide Team also aided in the investigations.
