Chennai techie murder: Prime suspect attempts suicide during arrest

A week after a 24-year-old Infosys employee was hacked to death on a crowded railway platform in Chennai, police cornered and arrested the prime suspect in Tirunelveli, located about 650 kms away from the capital city.

The prime suspect in the shocking murder of an Infosys employee in Chennai attempted to commit suicide as police cornered him in his house late on Friday night.

A week after a 24-year-old Infosys employee, S Swathi (right), was hacked to death on a crowded railway platform in Chennai, police cornered and arrested the prime suspect in Tirunelveli, located about 650 kms away from the capital city.

Read | Infosys employee hacked to death by ‘stalker’ at Chennai railway station

Twenty-two-year-old Ramkumar was tracked down to Tirunelveli, where he was arrested at around 10:40 pm, following an exhaustive manhunt that lasted a week. As police closed in on him, Ramkumar slit his throat with a sharp object. He sustained severe injuries and has been admitted to a government hospital. Upon his recovery, he will be transferred to Chennai, located about 650 kms away.

S Swathi, an employee for Infosys, was attacked while waiting to board the local train at the Nungambakkam railway station on June 24. The suspect hacked her to death on the platform and managed to escape in broad daylight, leading to a public outcry at the seemingly lax security at the station.

Briefing reporters about the arrest, Chennai police commissioner TK Rajendran said, “Ramkumar used to follow Swathi. He was infatuated and wanted to strike up a friendship with her, which was not successful. Hence he killed her.”

Police were led to Ramkumar based on CCTV footage at the station, which showed the suspect dressed in a blue checked shirt. The man’s image from the video was flashed across the state while police personnel went from door-to-door in Choolaimedu, the area in which the victim lived.

An unemployed engineering graduate, Ramkumar was tracked to a rented house in the same area, and was found to have lived there for three months, sharing accommodation with another person who is missing.

In Ramkumar’s room, police found a checked shirt believed to be the same the suspect was wearing at the time of the crime.

The accused was then traced to Tirunelveli where his family – a brother and sister and his parents – live. It is also where Ramkumar studied engineering.

Police sources said that during the initial round of questioning, Ramkumar admitted to killing Swathi. They also added that his family was being questioned in the matter, who were unaware of the allegations against Ramkumar.

Swathi’s parents were also in the dark about Ramkumar nor had they ever seen him, the source said.

The accused appears to have largely remained inconspicuous, a police official said, adding that neighbours were reluctant to speak up about Ramkumar. They now intend to check with his college authorities and others to learn more about him.