Swathi murder case: 'Silent' Ramkumar was infatuated with Infosys techie, killed her after she refused to be friends with him

Chennai: In a major breakthrough, the Chennai Police on Friday night arrested a man suspected to have brutally murdered a 24-year-old woman IT professional here.

Addressing a press conference, Chennai Police Commissioner TK Rajendran on Saturday said the 22-year-old accused, identified as P Ramkumar, used to stalk Infosys techie Swathi. "He was infatuated with Swathi and wanted to strike up a friendship with her, which was not successful. Hence he killed her."

Rajendran confirmed that the suspect acted alone and he had no accomplice.

 

Ramkumar was given first aid and then taken to the Government Hospital there for further treatment.

"We will go by the doctor's advice on interrogating him there or bringing him to Chennai," Rajendran said.

According to him, a special police team has gone to Tirunelveli to conduct further investigation.

Rajendran said Ramkumar had come to Chennai in search of a job.

The city Police Commissioner thanked the public and Swathi's parents for cooperating with the police in the investigations.

According to a senior doctor in the Government Hospital, it will take seven days for Ramkumar's wound to heal.

"After getting information from the investigation team we picked up Ramkumar, from his house on Friday night. On seeing us he tried to slit his throat with a blade. He was immediately taken to a hospital and is under treatment. He is fine and would recover," a police official in Tirunelveli told IANS over the phone.

According to the official, Ramkumar, an unemployed engineering graduate, has two sisters. His father works in BSNL and mother is a housewife.

"It seems the family is unaware of his alleged deed," the official told IANS.

He said Ramkumar's neighbours were reluctant to speak about the youth after coming to know the reason behind the police action.

"We have to check with the college authorities and others to know about him," the police said.

Speaking to a television channel a neighbour said Ramkumar is a silent person.

The engineering graduate allegedly murdered S Swathi using a sickle here last week after stalking her for months.

 

Ramkumar, a native of Shencottah near Tirunelveli, was staying in Choolaimedu area in the city where Swathi had resided for quite some time.

Swathi, employed with software giant Infosys, was found dead with cut injuries on her face and neck at around 6.30 am on a platform in Nungambakkam railway station on June 24. 

With the images in the closed circuit television (CCTV), the police conducted its manhunt.

The attacker had also taken Swathi's mobile phone after killing her. The police tracked the phone signals and found the phone was in Choolaimedu area near Nungambakkam station, said a news report.

The police were earlier told that a person resembling Ramkumar was staying in a mansion-building where bachelors stay. He vanished from the building since June 24.