A 54-year-old man was strangulated with a telephone cord and the wire of a mobile charger in his apartment at Nanganallur on Friday. Six gold rings that he wore and his mobile phone are missing.
The needle of suspicion is on an unidentified man and a woman, whom the victim, N.R. Chandrasekaran, had recruited only on Wednesday. Apart from offering a job, he had also permitted them to stay in another apartment nearby that was being used as his office, Pazhavanthangal police sources said.
Chandrasekaran, who resided on the third floor of an apartment complex in Lakshmi Nagar 4th stage with his wife Gowri, was engaged in the business of installing insect screens for houses and commercial establishments for two decades. He used to train people in installing the screens and then employ them. Often, he allowed them to stay in his office, the sources said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Around 10 p.m. Chandrasekaran's wife Gowri, who is an officer at Bank of Baroda on Anna Salai, reached home and found his body in one of the bedrooms. His face was covered with a pillow. The mobile charger wire and the telephone cord were around his neck,” said a relative of the victim, who did not want to be identified. Kumar, a carpenter employed by the victim, said that he had spoken to Chandrasekaran on Friday afternoon. Also around 3.30 p.m. Gowri had spoken to her husband over phone.
Joint Commissioner of Police (South) K.P. Shanmugarajeshwaran said that a man and a woman in their mid-30s were employed by Chandrasekaran on Wednesday. “He accommodated them in his office without verifying or collecting any identity documents from them. We are suspecting the two as they are missing from Friday evening.”
The police have obtained call records and are making enquiries with other employees and neighbours.
ADVERTISEMENT
The apartment complex, with 12 blocks, is located in a densely populated area and the police suspect it would be difficult for a stranger to commit the crime. With only one security guard at the complex, entry and exit into the complex is not difficult, people in the neighbourhood said.
Mr.Shanmugarajeshwaran said people should not employ strangers without conducting a background check. Persons who do not possess identification and address proof documents should not be employed.