In a series of murders that took place over the past two weeks, and which the city police have cracked, many of the suspects have been identified as close relatives of the victims.
They committed the crime to rob their kin of money, gold jewellery or other valuables, and in some cases, to settle personal scores.
At least four recent murders, including the killing of a woman at her apartment in Kolathur on November 20, have turned out to be the handiwork of the victims’ acquaintances.
ADVERTISEMENT
“These are crimes of passion which are pre-planned, or which take place in a fit of rage. The police can only react to such crimes by apprehending the suspects involved but it is hard to prevent the incidents themselves. We can’t walk into the personal lives of people,” said S. George, commissioner of police, at a recent press meet.
Last Friday, preliminary media reports of the murder of a 48-year-old homemaker, Manju Devi, in her first-floor house on Kalathiappa Street, Choolai, shocked residents.
Investigators suspected the work of an insider and sure enough, CCTV grab from nearby buildings confirmed the involvement of Manju’s husband, Hemraj Jain.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Hemraj and Manju repeatedly quarrelled over their son’s wedding plans. An enraged Hemraj plotted his wife’s death and killed her, and then set the scene up for a murder for gain,” said Abhash Kumar, additional commissioner of police (south).
CCTV evidence apart, the nature of the cut on Manju’s body helped the police narrow down on Hemraj as the prime suspect as he is left-handed, the officer said.
Murders committed by kin, in recent times, have been primarily for stealing gold jewellery or cash and in some cases, over property disputes or personal vengeance.
At times, when family members decide to settle disputes in public, the unfolding of the crime shocks witnesses and locals.
The classic examples are the brutal hacking to death of AIADMK functionary ‘Bullet Vishwa’ in K.K. Nagar, and that of a youngster, Karthik, in Mylapore.
The police are doing their best to curb crime in the city, but in cases of family disputes that lead to violent crimes, there is little that can be done in the way of prevention.
In such instances, only the speedy resolution of cases is possible, and that is being done, said a senior police officer.