Man hacks wife, held after Insta reels

Trichy: A 38-year-old man was arrested near Thanjavur on Thursday after he allegedly hacked his wife over suspected extramarital affair and fled with their five-year-old son. He later posted videos on Instagram in which he spoke about killing his son and himself.

The accused, P Dharmaraj, a resident of Mayilpalayam in Pattukkottai, was arrested following an intensive search operation. His wife was critically injured and is undergoing treatment at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

Dharmaraj and his wife have been married for six years. According to police, while the couple was living in Trichy last year, Dharmaraj allegedly found the wife with another man in their house. A heated argument ensued, after which the couple lived separately.

A few days ago, Dharmaraj reconciled with his wife and moved with her to Pattukkottai. However, on Wednesday, he allegedly attacked her with a sharp weapon at their house. After the assault, Dharmaraj took their son and went into hiding. He then released a video clip on Instagram apparently shot a year earlier allegedly showing his wife with the other man. He also posted new videos of himself covered in blood, and speaking about ending his life with his son.

The video clips caused widespread alarm when they surfaced online, prompting police to launch a massive search operation. Acting on a tip, a special team apprehended Dharmaraj near Thanjavur on Thursday evening. The team rescued the child and placed him in a children’s home. The Pattukkottai police booked Dharmaraj under sections 296B, 118(1), 351(3) and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in Thanjavur sub jail. Further investigation is on.