The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Man threatens to set family afire

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Sunday, Dec 20, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Man threatens to set family afire

Special Correspondent

TAMBARAM: Tension prevailed outside the house of a family of three in Pazhavanthangal on Friday when a 33-year-old painter threatened to set fire to a man, his wife and their son before attempting suicide.

Pazhavanthangal police said Pon Pandi (60), his wife Adhi Lakshmi (52) and their son Senthil Kumar (25), an air conditioner mechanic, lived on 9th Street, K.K. Nagar, Pazhavanthangal. The couple’s daughter, Jeyakodi, got married last month and settled in Tiruchi. Arumugham (33), a painter living on M.G.R.Road in the same locality had married Selvi in 1999, but she separated from him after four months of marriage. Police said he was in love with Jeyakodi and was dejected after she got married and left.

Around 6 a.m. on Friday, he came to Pon Pandi’s house with a can of kerosene and a knife. Pon Pandi, his wife and son were taken by surprise when Arumugham barged into the house, locked the door from inside and threw kerosene on the three of them and threatened to set them on fire. He said he would spare their lives only if they asked Jeyakodi to come to Pazhavanthangal from Tiruchi. Hearing their cries for help, neighbours rushed to the house and informed police. A constable, S. Kumar, managed to gain entry into the house after breaking open the rear door, but was injured when Arumugham attacked with him.

Subsequently, Arumugham pulled out the LPG cylinder from the kitchen and threatened to blow up the house if any attempt was made to nab him or rescue the family.

Arumugham was arrested.

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