‘Mercenaries hired by close relative of girl’

Shankar and Kausalya had been married for about 8 months before the tragedy struck.

In fact, Kausalya had given up her studies and had joined a private firm in Tirupur to support her husband who was in the final year of college. Her parents had opposed the marriage and had even moved the court to separate them. Since she was a major and the marriage was on mutual consent, no legal action could be initiated, sources said.

On Sunday, Sankar and Kausalya went to a departmental store in Udumalpet when the accused attacked them. Shankar suffered a grievous injury on his neck and fell unconscious on the spot. He succumbed to the injury while being rushed to the hospital.

The condition of Kausalya is said to be stable. Even as many people in the area watched in shock, the accused fled the scene on a motorcycle.

A senior police official who inspected the scene of crime said one of the girl’s close relatives had hired mercenaries to murder the Dalit youth. “We have detained a prime suspect who masterminded the attack. The three assailants would be apprehended soon,” he said.