CHENNAI: A 43-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her 19-year-old son at their house in Perungudi during the early hours of Monday. The Thoraipakkam police have arrested the accused.The deceased was identified as Chheni Devi Babulal, a resident of Kurunji Nagar in Perungudi. The accused, Rakesh, 19, is her son.According to police, the victim’s husband had travelled to Rajasthan about 15 days ago following the death of a close relative. On Sunday night, family members were sleeping in the same room, with Chheni Devi sleeping on the floor.Police said that at around 1 am, Rakesh allegedly strangled his mother with a piece of cloth before stabbing her on the left side of her neck with a kitchen knife.After the attack, Rakesh came out of the house and shouted for help. A neighbour, identified as Gangaram, called the 108 ambulance service. Paramedics examined Chheni Devi and declared her dead before informing the Thoraipakkam police.Inspector Vimal of the Thoraipakkam Police Station, who was on night patrol, reached the scene and arrested the accused. The body was recovered and sent for a post-mortem examination.A preliminary inquiry indicated that Rakesh had been experiencing mental health problems over the past few months. Police also found that he had failed his Class 12 examinations and had been unemployed, which had reportedly caused him significant emotional distress.Investigators said they are examining all aspects of the case, including his mental health history and the circumstances leading to the incident. A case has been registered.
