Three men who allegedly gagged and strangled a 50-year-old woman to death and stole her jewellery were arrested by the Red Hills police on Tuesday. The jewellery that had been pledged by the suspects at a pawn shop was recovered. The incident took place on December 3
Police sources said the suspects were Venkatesan (33), a share autorickshaw driver from Kodungaiyur, Partibhan (26) a waiter at a TASMAC bar in K.K. Nagar and Sudhakar (28), a tanker lorry driver from Mannargudi. While Parthiban was planning to go abroad, Venkatesan had heavy debts and Sudhakar wanted to buy a lorry. In order to fulfil their requirements, the trio plotted to rob women walking alone.
On the night of December 3, the victim Mallika, wife of a retired Special Sub Inspector and a resident of MMDA Colony 1st Main Road in Mathur, got into Venkatesan’s share autorickshaw in Koyambedu along with other passengers including Partibhan and Sudhakar and was heading to Moolakadai en route to her house. When the vehicle reached Retteri in Kolathur, all passengers, except the victim and the suspects, got down. Venkatesan pulled over at an isolated location and the three men gagged and strangulated Mallika.
They dumped her body in a bylane nearby and fled with the 15 sovereigns of gold jewellery she was wearing.
A special police team investigating the murder nabbed the three suspects on Tuesday and the gold jewellery was recovered.
The trio were remanded in custody and sent to Puzhal prison, sources added.
