Man held for killing 7-year-old boy

The Kothanur police have arrested a 28-year-old man who had killed his co-worker’s seven-year-old son over a personal rivalry.

Silambarasan alias Simbu, a resident of Jayarama Reddy Layout in Kothanur, wanted to settle scores with his co-worker Nagappa, who suspected that Simbu was having an illicit affair with his wife. Nagappa would tell everyone at the workplace that Silambarasan was having an affair with his (Nagappa’s) wife. Silambarasan felt that his image was being tarnished and decided to take revenge against Nagappa, said the police.

Silambarasan hails from Poovampatty village in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. He was employed for a construction project at Kothanur about six months ago. He befriended Nagappa, another construction worker in the same project. Nagappa and his wife would have regular fights and Silambarasan would often intervene and pacify them. Silambarasan’s frequent interventions made Nagappa presume that he had an affair with his wife, said the police.

On August 13, Silambarasan spotted Nagappa’s son Mahesh playing in front of his house at around 3.30 pm. He lured Mahesh by offering him chocolates, took him to a wooded area at Marasandra, where he strangled the boy and abandoned the body, said the police.

He returned to the City and even went with Nagappa to the police station on the same day to lodge a missing person’s complaint. The body was traced the next day and the police grew suspicious about Silambarasan’s behaviour and detained him. He confessed to the crime during interrogation, added the police. He told the police he decided to kill Mahesh to settle scores with Nagappa for defaming him.