Chennai: Man kills woman over money, severed body parts found in suitcase near Thoraipakkam

In a chilling crime in the southern suburbs of Chennai, a woman's severed body parts were found in a suitcase near Thoraipakkam on Thursday. The Thoraipakkam police recovered the body and have identified the deceased as Deepa alias Vellaiammal, 32, from Madhavaram. A suspect, Manikandan from Sivaganga district, has been arrested in connection with the crime.

Suspect Arrested, Confession Made

Police arrested Manikandan after tracking him down through CCTV footage. During questioning, Manikandan confessed to murdering Deepa following a quarrel over money. According to the police, he attacked her with a hammer and subsequently dismembered her body, disposing of the parts in a suitcase before fleeing the scene.

Events Leading to the Murder

The investigation revealed that Manikandan had reached out to Deepa, a sex worker, through a broker. Deepa traveled to Thoraipakkam on Wednesday. When she did not return, her brother attempted to contact her but found her phone switched off. Using the "find my device" option, he tracked her location to Thoraipakkam.

Police Action and Investigation

After gathering information, Deepa’s brother approached the Thoraipakkam police station on Wednesday night. The police advised him to file a missing person complaint at the Manali police station. Meanwhile, police discovered the body in Thoraipakkam and contacted Deepa’s brother, who identified her.

The police are continuing their investigation to locate the broker who connected Deepa with Manikandan. "We are questioning the arrested Manikandan and trying to locate the broker who introduced the woman Deepa to the assailant," said an investigation officer.