A woman from Tirunelveli was brutally beaten to death by her estranged husband inside a women’s hostel in Coimbatore on Sunday. It sparked widespread outrage over rising crimes against women in Tamil Nadu.
The victim, identified as B Sripriya, a 30-year-old woman, had been living in Coimbatore after separating from her husband, S Balamurugan, 32 year 32-year-old man. According to police, Balamurugan arrived at her hostel on November 30 with a sickle hidden in his clothes. An argument broke out shortly after the two met, during which he allegedly pulled out the weapon and attacked her multiple times.
ALSO READ | Speeding Mercedes kills one, injures two Ambience Mall staff at Vasant Kunj
'Payment for betrayal'
In a shocking turn, authorities said Balamurugan then took a selfie with her body and uploaded it as his WhatsApp status with the caption "The payment for betrayal is death."
He also claimed she had "betrayed" him. Hostel residents fled in panic during the assault, but Balamurugan remained at the scene until police arrived and arrested him. The sickle used in the attack was recovered. Police sources indicate he suspected Sripriya of being involved in another relationship, which may have triggered the assault. Sripriya worked at a private firm in Coimbatore and had moved to the city after separating from her husband.
ALSO READ | Delhi AQI slips back to ‘poor’ category at 298; city shivers through coldest November in five years
The murder has reignited the political debate on women’s safety in Tamil Nadu, with the opposition accusing the ruling DMK government of failing to curb brutal offences. The government and state police, however, insist these are isolated incidents rooted in personal disputes and emphasise that swift action is being taken in all such cases.
Sripriya’s body has been sent to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered, and further investigation is ongoing.
