A woman and her daughter were murdered and 40 sovereigns of gold and Rs 20,000 stolen at Alapakkam near Maduravoyal on Thursday.
Police identified the victims as Devi (45) and her daughter Pavithra (23). Devi’s husband Samikannu, a tea shop owner, had left home at 9 a.m. followed by their son, Sukumar, who left half an hour later.
The murder happened between 10 and 11 a.m, say police sources. Samikaanu called home and when no one picked up the phone he went home to find his wife and daughter with their throat slit and multiple injuries.
Police suspect that the intruder was known to the victims as there was no sign of break in. Further investigations are on.
The image of the killers returning after the double murder is suspected to have been captured on a CCTV camera placed at a house nearby.
