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Betrayal Photo Sparks Deadly Hostel Murder
1 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A man murdered his estranged wife in a hostel after receiving intimate photos.
- The victim had left her husband four months prior due to marital issues.
- The accused posted a selfie with the victim's body and a threatening message.
A shocking incident of spousal rage unfolded on Sunday morning in Coimbatore when Balamurugan, 32, allegedly killed his estranged wife, Sri Priya, 30. The fatal attack took place inside a working women's hostel on Raja Naidu Street. Priya had separated from Balamurugan four months earlier amid marital discord and relocated to Coimbatore. She had entered into an extramarital relationship with a relative of Balamurugan, who allegedly sent an intimate photograph of the couple to the accused.
Fueled by rage, Balamurugan reportedly went to the hostel in an inebriated state on Sunday morning. An argument ensued, during which he allegedly attacked Priya with a sickle from his bag, resulting in her death. Rathinapuri police recovered the body and have sent it for postmortem examination. Balamurugan was apprehended at the scene, reportedly sitting beside the deceased.
The accused, identified as S Balamurugan from Tirunelveli, has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. In a disturbing post-mortem act, he allegedly took a selfie with Priya's body and shared it on WhatsApp with a caption stating, "payment for betrayal is death." This act highlights the extreme violence stemming from personal disputes.
