HIV-positive woman killed in Salem

A 35-year-old woman, who tested positive for HIV, is allegedly hacked to death at Karupur in Tamil Nadu's Salem district.

A 35-year-old woman, who tested positive for HIV, was allegedly hacked to death at Karupur in Tamil Nadu's Salem district, police said on Saturday.

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Padmini, a native of Guruvayur in Kerala, was diagnosed HIV-positive after her husband Rajendran died six months ago of AIDS, and was leading a secluded life since then. She was found dead in a pool of blood by her two step-children when they returned home from school yesterday. “With the neighbours reluctant to come forward for any help, 13-year-old twins - Symala and Chitra - went to the nearest police station to inform about the incident,” Salem Superintendent of Police N Baskaran said.

There was no attempt to rob the woman's jewels or to sexually assault her, he said adding police suspect she was hacked to death for being an HIV positive.

Padmini looked after her husband's two children from his first wife Karuppamma, who died five years back.