Thanjavur: A 21-year-old youth was murdered by a three-member gang in Kumbakonam last night, for reportedly misbehaving with his friend’s wife. The police have arrested two persons in this connection, while one is absconding.

Dinesh (21), son of Chinnaiyapillai and residing at Maathi Gate Street in Kumbakonam, was found murdered near the UGD Pumping Station at Nehru Nagar. The police retrieved the body and sent it to the Government Hospital for post-mortem and conducted an inquiry.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he had been last seen moving along with his friend, Ayyappan (21), and two others, namely Suriyakumar (18) and Rahul, last night. Subsequently, police took Ayyappan into custody and grilled him.

Interrogation by police revealed that Dinesh sexually harassed Ayyappan’s wife, who complained about him to her husband. When Ayyappan asked Dinesh last night about his wife’s allegation, the latter denied that the incident ever took place. Following this, a heated argument broke out between the two, after which Dinesh left.

Later that night, Dinesh had got drunk and was asleep near the UGD pumping station at Nehru Nagar when Ayyappan, along with his two associates, Suriyakumar and Rahul, came and attacked him with lethal weapons, and fled from the spot.

Dinesh sustained grievous injuries and died.

Based on the information, Kumbakonam West police registered a murder case and arrested Ayyappan and Suriyakumar. A search is now on for Rahul.