Salesgirl killed inside cloth store

CHENNAI: Shoppers who stepped into a famous apparel store in Thirumangalam on Tuesday evening got something they did not bargain for: a ringside view of a murder.
Eyewitnesses said shrieks rent the air as a 23-year-old man, an employee of the store on Ambattur Estate Road, slit the throat of his colleague, a 19-year-old woman. As M Bhavani collapsed, her assailant P Muruganandam ran the same knife across his throat in an apparent attempt at suicide.It all happened around 4.15pm.
Police said the bloodbath was a result of a love triangle. Bhavani of Gandhi Nagar had separated from her boyfriend before falling in love with Muruganandam, a resident of Padikuppam, an investigating officer said. She joined the store three years ago. Muruganandam came to know of her earlier relationship and the two used to fight at the store where they worked as salespersons, a policeman who inquired with the store employees said.
As the fights became frequent, Bhavani quit her job a month ago and kept away from Muruganandam. On June 13, she rejoined work, but went on leave for a week. She has not been talking to Muruganandam since then. She came to the store on Tuesday.
Police inspector Frank D Ruban, who went through CCTV footage collected from the store, said Muruganandam was talking to Bhavani before the murder. "He then took her to a corner on the ground floor. It looked like they were having an argument, when he took out a knife from his pocket and slit her throat. He immediately slashed his throat," the inspector said.
Some employees of the store took the two to a private hospital in Mogappair, where Bhavani was declared brought dead. Muruganandam was shifted to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. His condition is said to be critical.
Police have collected CCTV footage and interviewed store employees.
Hearing about the incident, a few of Bhavani's relatives pelted stones at the store. Muruganandam, a native of Ariyalur, has been living in Chennai for work.