CHENNAI: In a horrific double murder, a 20-year-old college student stabbed his mother, 45, and 15-year-old younger brother, and slashed their throats while they were sleeping at their house in Thiruvottiyur on Thursday.
Nithesh, a third year BSc data analyst student at a college in Velachery, then wrapped their bodies in separate plastic bags and left them in the kitchen and fled.
The murders came to light after Nithesh sent a mobile message to his aunt Mahalakshmi, who also lives in the neighbourhood, saying: "I left a bag containing my mobile phone, house key and a small tape. Rush to my house immediately".
Though Nitesh sent the message around 9.30pm on Friday, Mahalakshmi saw the message only around 12.30am on Saturday. She immediately rushed to Padma's house, only to find blood splashed on the floor and walls of the house and a pungent smell all over. Then there were the two plastic bags containing the bodies of her sister Padma and nephew Sanjay.
On information, police, forensic experts and a sniffer dog rushed to the scene. They tracked Nithesh's movements using his mobile phone tower locations and finally they traced him near the Thiruvottiyur beach.
M Padma, 45, was a acupuncture therapist while her younger son Sanjay, 15, was a Class X student at a private school in Thiruvottiyur. Padma's husband Murugan is employed as a crane operator in Oman.
During questioning, Nithesh told police that he was annoyed with his mother for being 'strict' with him and for chiding him after he scored poor marks in semester exams and had arrears in 14 subjects.
Police said Nithesh fled the house two months ago and he returned home after his friends and family members persuaded him. He also told police that he was angry with his mother but he also killed his younger brother "because he didn't want him to be orphaned."
Nithesh also told police that he wanted to either jump in front of a train or drown himself in the sea, after the crime, but dropped both plans. He then decided to message his aunt about the murders, as the next day's newspapers did not have any news about it.
Police arrested Nithesh. He will be produced before a magistrate court in the city and sent to jail.
Meanwhile, police informed his father Murugan about the murder of his wife and younger son. He is on the way back to the city