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Updated - October 23, 2026 04:23 pm IST - THOOTHUKUDI

Image used for representation | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

A 48-year-old woman was hacked to death by a 23-year-old man at Mudalur village in Thoothukudi district in the early hours of Friday (October 23, 2026), allegedly for objecting to his contact with her minor daughter.

According to the police, the deceased was identified as Mary Vijila. The accused, Gnanaprakash, from Anadhapuram in Sathankulam, was well known to Mary’s family and had allegedly been in contact with her minor daughter. However, Mary and her husband, Muthukrishnan, 50, had objected to the contact between them, leading to arguments between Gnanaprakash and Mary’s family.

Gnanaprakash allegedly went to Mary’s house and picked a quarrel with the family. He then attacked Mary, Muthukrishnan, and their 12-year-old son with a sickle. Mary died on the spot, while her husband and son sustained injuries.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the Thattarmadam police rushed to the spot and rescued Muthukrishnan and his son before sending them to a hospital for treatment. Mary’s body was sent for a postmortem examination at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital.

The investigation revealed that Gnanaprakash had also taken two of Mary and Muthukrishnan’s minor daughters from the house to his residence. The police subsequently rescued the girls from Gnanaprakash’s residence.

The Thattarmadam police arrested Gnanaprakash on Friday, and further investigations are under way.

Published - October 23, 2026 04:00 pm IST

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