Traffic cops son held for murder

CHENNAI: The son of a traffic head constable was arrested in connection with the murder of a college librarian’s wife in Vandalur, on Thursday.According to police, Santhanam alias Shantha Kumar (20), the accused, was in a relationship with the youngest daughter of the victim, Toulath Nisha. Toulath had opposed her daughter’s relationship with Santhanam as he belonged to a different religion. Police sources said that Santhanam, the son of a traffic head constable from Pallavaram, was arrested from his friend’s house at Nungambakkam, where he was hiding. On Wednesday, Santhanam, who was studying in a polytechnic institute in Nungambakkam, had gone to the staff quarters of a private engineering college in Vandalur, where the deceased and her family were living. The victim’s husband Jiyauddin, who worked as a librarian there, and her two daughters were away when Santhanam arrived at her house. Santhanam reportedly asked Toulath for her daughter’s hand in marriage to him, resulting in a heated argument.  In a fit of rage, Santhanam picked up a knife and attacked the woman, killing her. Sources said that a few days ago, Santhanam had visited the girl’s house and met her parents with the same demand.