Police are searching for a man who had hacked a 43-year-old woman to death because she refused to oblige to his sexual advances. The incident took place in O’valley, about 75 kilometres from Ooty.

Amrithalingam had made sexual advances at the victim, Ramani, whose husband had died just six months ago. She had turned him down. Angered by her refusal, Amirthalingam attacked her today with a sickle and hacked her to death. When neighbours heard the noise and tried to catch him, he threatened them and fled the scene.

Amrithalingam was a distant relative of Ramani’s late husband.