A gover­nment ploytechnic lecturer murdered his wife in front of his two gro­wn-up sons over a domestic issue in upscale Indiranagar on Thursday night. The deceased is Manjula (45), a resident of 14th Main.

The police arrested the victim’s husband Mailaraiah (56) soon after the murder. He is a lecturer of Civil Engineering at the Government Polytechnic in KGF. The couple has two sons — the elder one a software engineer and the younger studying II PUC.

According to the police, the couple was incompatible and used to quarrel frequently. Mailaraiah picked a fight over a petty issue around 9 pm, while his sons were in their room. He lost his cool when his wife demanded a divorce and asked him to move out of the house.

In a fit of rage, he picked up a machete and slashed her throat three times. Her sons rushed to her rescue as she raised an alarm and collapsed on the ground, bleeding profusely. She died on the spot due to severe injuries, said the police.

Mailaraiah was dazed and sat next to the body. Neighbours who witnessed the murder, informed the police who rushed the house and detained him.