In a ghastly act, a grain merchant from Madurai allegedly beat up and burnt his daughter-in-law and attempted to kill her three-month-old daughter at her residence in Varthur on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday.
While Vijayalakshmi (27) died on the spot, her as yet-unnamed baby is battling for her life in hospital near Marathahalli.
The motive for the attack by Nagarajan (55) is that his son, Raja Kannan, married his classmate Vijayalakshmi against his wishes.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Airport Sub-Division) R. Ashok confirmed the crime to The Hindu .
The couple tied the knot in Madurai in July last year and registered the marriage in their jurisdictional sub-registrar's office.
“However, Nagarajan started to threaten them with dire consequences,” Mr. Ashok said.
Unable to bear the harassment, the young couple relocated to Bangalore two months ago. Mr. Raja Kannan got a job as a web designer with a firm near ITPL in Whitefield.
Nagarajan arrived at their home on Tuesday afternoon when his son was in his office, and attacked his daughter-in-law with an iron rod.
“When Vijayalakshmi fell to the ground, he poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. She was burnt to death,” said the ACP, who is supervising the investigation against the absconding merchant.
Though her screams brought neighbours rushing in, Nagarajan locked the door and rushed out. They broke open the windowpanes and door and tried to save her but it was too late, the Varthur police said.
