Puducherry man arrested over stabbing woman whom he befriended on social media platform

PUDUCHERRY: The Auroville police have arrested a 35-year-old man for stabbing his girlfriend in the abdomen with a knife, driven by rage over her friendship with another man. The duo met on Instagram and developed a relationship. The accused has been identified as J Sathyanarayanan, a resident of Kurinji Nagar in Lawspet, Puducherry.

Police said Sathyanarayanan has been living separately from his wife for the past six years following a family dispute, and the couple have a son. Investigations revealed that approximately two years ago, Sathyanarayanan connected with a 26-year-old woman from Coimbatore on Instagram. The woman had also been estranged from her husband for the last two years. Over time, their online interaction blossomed into a romantic relationship.

Six months ago, he brought the woman to Puducherry and secured a job for her at a supermarket. The woman, while working at the supermarket, developed a friendship with a male colleague. Upon discovering this, an enraged Sathyanarayanan confronted her. The situation escalated on Monday when Sathyanarayanan called the woman to meet him near the Moratandi forest area under the Auroville police jurisdiction.

An argument broke out between them regarding her talking to the other man. In a fit of rage, Sathyanarayanan suddenly pulled out a hidden knife and stabbed the woman in her stomach before fleeing the spot. The victim collapsed on the ground, bleeding heavily. Passersby who heard her cries for help rushed to her rescue and immediately moved her to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry, where she is currently undergoing intensive medical treatment.

The Auroville police registered a case, following a complaint, and launched an investigation. Police arrested Sathyanarayanan.