In yet another case of revenge over spurned love, a youth stabbed a pregnant woman, K. Divya (20) and her husband, V. Karuppiah (28) at Tirumangalam Town on Saturday night.
While the husband succumbed to injuries past Saturday midnight, the condition of the girl, who has been admitted to the Government Rajaji hospital with three stab injuries, is said to be critical.
The police said that the accused, S. Balamurugan, a small-time electrician, had been in one-sided love with the girl, Divya of Kandakulam under Tirumangalam Taluk police station limits.
Her widow mother, K. Suryakala (43) had arranged Divya's marriage with Karuppiah of Santhankudi six months back. The husband, who was working in an estate in Mysuru, had taken with him his wife to Karnataka.
Meanwhile, on May 28, Karuppiah had brought his pregnant wife to his home.
Balamurugan who wanted to take revenge on the girl, had followed the couple who were returning home on a two-wheeler after shopping in Tirumangalam town on Saturday night.
The accused pushed the couple down by hitting his bike against their two-wheeler. Even as they attempted to get up, the man repeatedly stabbed them at Mampatti junction on Usilampatti Road at around 7 p.m.
When local people rushed to their help, the accused fled the scene leaving back his motorbike.
The couple were rushed to the GRH, where Karuppiah died around 12.30 a.m. on Sunday.
The Tirumangalam Town police have secured the accused.