College girl killed during robbery bid, construction worker on the run nabbed

CHENNAI: Hot on the trail of a construction worker who was fleeing to his hometown on a friend’s two-wheeler after allegedly murdering an 18-year-old college girl in Poonamallee during a robbery bid that went awry, police officials nabbed the accused near Chengalpattu.

The man was identified as Shanmugam (49) of Tiruvannamalai. The deceased, C Meena (20) of Kattupakkam near Poonamallee, the only daughter of Chandrasekar-Dhanalakshmi couple, was pursuing second-year BSc Maths at a private college in Kodambakkam. With colleges yet to reopen, Meena was alone at home on

Monday afternoon when her parents were away for work. Growing suspicious when her phone was switched off, Dhanalakshmi requested a neighbour to check on her. The neighbour found Meena in a pool of blood inside the house, with her neck stabbed with scissors. The neighbour immediately informed Dhanalakshmi, who alerted the Poonamallee police.

Officials found that a 1.5 sovereign chain and Meena’s mobile phone were missing. When they questioned the construction labourers who were working on the first floor of the building, Poonamallee inspector Bharathi and team came to know that the mason, Shanmugam, who went to bring an additional worker did not return. Finding his phone switched off, officials went to his house in the locality but it was locked. Inside, they found a blood stained shirt and Meena’s phone. Inquiries revealed that Shanmugam borrowed a friend’s bike to reach his hometown in Tiruvannamalai. Officials went on his trail, and secured him near Chengalpattu on Monday night.

“He pledged the jewels and was taking the money home to settle his jewel loans,” said inspector Bharathi. When Meena raised an alarm during the robbery, he stabbed her in the neck and escaped with the chain, added an official. The accused was remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday.