A horrific incident in a quiet village near Chengam has sent shockwaves through Tiruvannamalai district. A man and his live-in partner were burned to death in the early hours of Friday after unidentified persons allegedly locked their hut from the outside and set it on fire.
The Grisly Discovery
Chengam police inspector M Selvaraj stated that authorities received information about a fully gutted hut in Pakkiripalayam village. A police team rushed to the scene and made a grim discovery: two bodies charred beyond recognition inside the remains of the small dwelling.
A forensic team was immediately dispatched to comb the area for evidence. Sniffer dogs were also brought in to assist with the investigation. Given the circumstances, postmortem examinations were conducted on the spot to begin piecing together the final moments of the victims.
Victims' Troubled Past
The deceased have been identified as P Sakthivel, a 53-year-old farmer, and S Amirtham, his 40-year-old partner. Initial police inquiries revealed a complex personal history for both individuals.
Sakthivel had separated from his legal wife, S Tamilarasi, approximately three years ago. The former couple share two sons and a daughter, who are now reportedly living with their mother in Bengaluru. It was around the time of his separation that Sakthivel began his relationship with Amirtham.
Amirtham was also separated from her husband, with whom she has two sons and a daughter. The pair had been living together in a modest 10x10 feet hut for the past three years. The hut was erected on a three-acre farm that Sakthivel had leased from a local villager.
Investigation and Possible Motives
Police have registered a case of suspicious death and are exploring multiple angles. Inspector Selvaraj confirmed that the investigation is considering all possibilities, including the potential involvement of the estranged spouses of both victims.
The sequence of events leading to the tragedy is still being reconstructed. It is known that Sakthivel's daughter from his first marriage visited him on Thursday night. She left after having dinner around 9 PM. Later, neighbours were jolted awake by the pungent smell of burning material and discovered the hut engulfed in flames. They promptly alerted the Chengam police.
The act of locking the hut from the outside strongly points to murder, ruling out any possibility of an accidental fire. The police are now focused on uncovering who had a motive to commit such a brutal act and are pursuing every lead to bring the perpetrators to justice.
