Pregnant woman murdered by her parents and brother

ARIYALUR: In a suspected case of ‘honour killing’, a seven-month pregnant woman was beaten to death by her parents and brother at Ponparappi village in Ariyalur district today after she refused to terminate her pregnancy.

The 25-year-old Sharmila, daughter of Thangaraj, was found dead under mysterious circumstances with head injury at her parents’ house. The body was removed to government hospital for post-mortem.

Investigation by police revealed that Sharmila had secretly married her relative R.Kalaiarasan (30) despite stiff resistance from her parents in 2008.

Meanwhile, Sharmila’s parents Thangaraj (50), Bhavani (44) and brother Manikandan (23) separated the couple and forcibly married her to one Anbumani (30) in 2009.

Reluctant to live with Anbumani, Sharmila left him last year and again started living with Kalaiarasan. By the time when Sharmila’s family members traced her at Chennai, she was seven-month pregnant. They brought Sharmila from Chennai to Ponparappi village yesterday (Sunday) with a promise that they would allow her to live with Kalaiarasan as per her desire. 

However, they insisted Sharmila to terminate pregnancy to avoid social ignominy. Sharmila refused to terminate pregnancy resulting in a heated quarrel between her and her parents. Angered over the issue, Thangaraj, Bhavani and Manikandan reportedly assaulted Sharmila in which she sustained head injuries and died on the spot.

Sharmila’s parents, however, claimed that she slipped and fell on the ground resulting in the head injury.

Police suspect that she might have been hit with a metal object. Injury marks were also found on the body. Sendurai police have registered a case and detained the victim’s parents and brother for questioning.