According to police, Nagaraj of Atrapakkam in Tiruvallur suspected that his wife was having an illicit affair. This led to frequent quarrels between them. Unable to bear it anymore, Nandhini had gone back to her parents in Bhemathoppu near Poondi about three months ago, taking their three daughters with her.

Late on Tuesday evening, Nandhini was returning home from the jewellery shop in Tiruvallur where she was working, riding pillion with her colleague Balaji from a neighbouring village.

When they reached Punnambakkam at 9.30 pm, Nagaraj intercepted the bike. The husband and wife entered into a verbal quarrel, following which Nagaraj allegedly hacked her repeatedly.

Sensing trouble, her colleague Balaji sped away from the spot. Nagaraj too escaped from there immediately afterwards, leaving behind a grievously injured Nandhini.

After being informed by Balaji about the incident, Nandhini’s parents rushed to the spot to find their daughter lying on the road in a pool of blood in the poorly lit stretch. With the help of some motorists who noticed the bleeding woman on the road, they managed to arrange an ambulance to rush her to a nearby hospital.

However, she died a few hours later at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital without responding to treatment.

Speaking to DT Next, Thiruvallur taluk police said they were on the lookout for Nagaraj, who has gone missing since the attack last night. Police believe that Nagaraj has been closely monitoring his wife after coming to know that Nandhini had been pillion riding with her male colleague on the latter’s bike. “He must have waited for them on the road side near Punnambakkam,” police said.