In a horrifying crime that has sent shockwaves through the southern suburbs of Chennai, the dismembered body of a woman was found stuffed inside a suitcase near Thoraipakkam on Thursday, 18 September 2024. The victim has been identified as Deepa, also known as Vellaiammal, aged 32, from Madhavaram. The police have arrested a suspect, Manikandan, 25, from Sivaganga district, in connection with the gruesome murder.
Residents of the Kumaran Kudil area near Mettukuppam in Thoraipakkam first noticed a foul smell emanating from a suitcase on the roadside on Thursday morning. Suspecting something unusual, they alerted the local police. The Thoraipakkam police promptly arrived at the scene and opened the suitcase, revealing a woman’s severed body parts. Chennai Police confirmed that they recovered the body around 9:30 a.m. The deceased was later identified as Deepa, who was reported missing from the Madavaram area three days prior.
The police and forensic experts secured the area and began investigating the scene. Preliminary inquiries, supported by CCTV footage from the vicinity, led to the identification of Manikandan, who was seen abandoning the suitcase in the area. Further investigation revealed that Deepa had been involved in sex work and had come to Thoraipakkam through an intermediary. According to the police, Manikandan had hired Deepa for sex work, but an argument broke out over payment, leading him to murder her in a fit of rage.
The police investigation found that Manikandan had killed Deepa, dismembered her body, and stuffed it into the suitcase before dumping it on the roadside. He was staying in a house nearby and was apprehended by the police after being identified through CCTV footage. Manikandan confessed to the crime during interrogation, confirming that the argument over payment led him to commit the murder. The police are still probing further details, including the role of the intermediary who brought Deepa to the area.
The discovery of the woman’s body has caused widespread shock in the usually bustling IT corridor of Chennai, where the crime occurred. Chennai Deputy Commissioner CP Chakraborty and Adyar Deputy Commissioner Ponkarthikumar arrived at the scene to oversee the investigation. Police officials have indicated that they are looking into the events leading up to the murder and collecting further evidence from the crime scene.
The body has been sent for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Forensic experts are also examining the suitcase and other evidence gathered at the scene to reconstruct the sequence of events. The police are actively pursuing the case to uncover any additional information, and Manikandan remains in custody for further questioning.
The gruesome nature of the crime has raised concerns about safety in the area, particularly in light of the ongoing construction projects and increasing foot traffic. Residents have expressed fear and dismay over the incident, which has attracted significant attention due to the disturbing manner in which the body was discovered.
This crime has unfolded amid criticism from the opposition regarding rising crime rates in the state, and accusations that the ruling DMK government has refuted. In a statement to the media, the Chennai police assured the public that they are conducting a thorough investigation and have arrested the primary suspect in connection with the case.
(With inputs from Dinamani)
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