TN: Angered by abuse, wife burns man alive

Chennai: A habitual drinker was burned to death by his wife after years of bearing with his verbal abuse and constant accusations of infidelity. The 35-year-old set him on fire after tying his limbs when he was in an inebriated condition at Thiruverkadu on Sunday night.

She initially pretended that her husband committed suicide, say police but later wept and confessed that her husband had abused both her and her daughter verbally which led to her taking this extreme step. Police also said that the couple had sought help to sort out their problems three months ago.

Brindha (35) and her husband Sakthivel (39), natives of Senji, Villupuram district living in Anna Street, Anbu Nagar, Kolladi were vegetable vendors. The couple have three children. Their eldest daughter (15) works in a company in Thiruverkadu while the two sons study in a school. Police sources said Sakthivel often came home drunk and verbally abused his wife suspecting her fidelity, and even abused her in front of neighbours. She allegedly tied his limbs at such times and he would set himself free on regaining consciousness.

The 35-year-old set him on fire after tying his limbs when he was in an inebriated condition at Thiruverkadu on Sunday night.

On Sunday, Brindha was cooking in the house to celebrate the month of ‘Adi’ when her husband began to pick a fight, police said. This continued in the night when he was inebriated.

The woman tied his legs and hands, doused him in kerosene and set him on fire. Their children were sleeping in their neighbour’s house when the incident took place, police said.

Neigbhours rushed to help after they saw flames. The woman, standing outside her house, allegedly pretended at first that her husband had committed suicide, police said. The man died on the spot.

Upon inquiry, the woman wept and confessed to murdering her husband and was arrested.

“She said her husband picked up a fight in front of her relatives and even suspected their daughter. Frustrated with the man, she took this extreme step,” said a police official. He added that the woman had come to the police station three months ago with the same issue. “We had sorted it out and sent them back. She was frustrated over his behaviour of suspecting her.”

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