Tamil Nadu man murders estranged wife, posts selfie with body as WhatsApp status

The accused took a selfie with the body and posted it as his WhatsApp status, claiming she had “betrayed” him.

A woman from Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli was brutally murdered by her estranged husband inside a women’s hostel in Coimbatore on Sunday, a crime that has sparked widespread outrage over the rising violence against women in the state.

Sripriya, an employee of a private firm in Coimbatore, had been living separately from her husband, Balamurugan. On Sunday afternoon, he arrived at the hostel to meet her, allegedly carrying a sickle hidden under his clothes.

Investigators said the couple got into an argument shortly after they met. In a sudden outburst, Balamurugan is accused of pulling out the sickle and hacking her to death inside the hostel premises. In a shocking development, police reported that he then took a selfie with her body and posted it as his WhatsApp status, claiming she had “betrayed” him.

Panic spread among hostel residents, who fled the building as the attack unfolded. Balamurugan, however, remained at the scene and waited for the police to arrive. He was arrested immediately, and the weapon was seized. Early inquiries indicate that he suspected his wife of being involved with another man.

The incident has intensified political debate in Tamil Nadu over women’s safety. The opposition has accused the ruling DMK government of a deteriorating law-and-order situation and failing to protect women, citing an increase in brutal crimes and sexual offences.

The DMK government and state police, meanwhile, argue that such cases are isolated acts stemming from personal disputes, asserting that swift action is being taken in every instance to ensure rapid justice and the harshest possible punishment.