A forest guard, Rajendran, 53, was murdered in his farm at Sadaiyandipuram off Sirumalai hills on Monday.
Police sources said that Rajendran and his wife Sundaravalli, 48, went to their farm in the evening on hearing about a group of men stealing tender coconuts there. When questioned, the couple were reportedly attacked by the gang with liquor bottles, in which Rajendran died on the spot. Sundaravalli sustained injuries. The gang fled the spot immediately.
Alerted by the public, Ammaiyanaickanur police reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem to Government Hospital, Nilakkottai. Sundaravalli was admitted for treatment.