Overview

• Vijaya, the mother of Malini, was arrested on September 17 and charged under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, with police also arresting Gugan, Anbunithi and Bhaskar while tracing two more suspects.
• K Vairamuthu, 28, was ambushed with sickles near Adiyamangalam on the night of September 15 and died en route to the Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital.
• Investigators formed four special teams after initially detaining multiple people, and five suspects were taken into custody before the arrest of Vijaya.
• Police say the relationship had been contested within the family despite a September 14 mediation where Malini reaffirmed plans to marry and moved in with Vairamuthu.
• Protests and road blockades by family members and groups including CPI(M), DYFI, VCK and the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front demanded arrests under the SC/ST law and compensation for the victim’s family.