Blood-stained footprints found where a 60-year-old teacher was murdered, helped the Tirupattur police track the murderer.
Govindaraj was found dead in a pool of blood, in a thatched hut on his farm at CKC Road on the outskirt of Tirupattur, on July 23. He was unmarried and owned property worth Rs 15 crore. Police suspected either wealth gain or prior enmity as the motive behind the murder.
However, the footprints found at the murder scene were vital clues. “Two blood-stained footprints were found on the cement floor at the murder scene. The murderer had stepped in the blood after slitting the throat of Govindaraj, using a sharp sickle that was used to cut tender coconuts in Govindaraj’s coconut grove,” said deputy superintendent of police of Tirupattur, M Nagarajan.
The forensic team led by assistant director of Forensic Wing K Pari, had traced the foot prints and also taken photographs of them. “We matched it with the foot prints of around 20 suspects, including relatives and persons who had regularly visited Govindaraj. We finally zeroed in on Vinod Kumar, as his footprints matched those found at the murder scene. The forensic experts have also confirmed it,” he added.
Vinod Kumar was arrested on Friday and on interrogation, he confessed to the crime.
Investigation further revealed that Vinod, who used to help Govindaraj on the farm, had pledged his mother-in-law’s anklets for gambling and had lost the money. To redeem the anklets, he had took a loan of Rs 4,000 from his house owner, said the DSP.
To repay the loan, he had asked Govindaraj to lend him Rs 4,000. Govindaraj had asked Vinod to meet him at 8 pm on July 23 to collect the money. However, Govindaraj had allegedly scolded Vinod and refused to give him money as he was drunk, said Nagarajan, quoting Vinod’s confession.
In a fit of rage, Vinod grabbed the sickle and slit his throat. Following the confession, police registered a case of murder against Vinod.
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