Locked In the Night, Burnt Alive: How a Tamil Nadu Couple’s Hut Became Their Death Trap

A horrifying double murder has shaken a small farming village in Tamil Nadu, where a man and his live-in partner were allegedly burned alive after their hut was locked from the outside and set on fire.

The incident has triggered outrage and a large police hunt for those behind the brutal crime.

Hut set ablaze after midnight

The incident occurred in Pakkiripalayam village near Chengam town in Tiruvannamalai. According to police, unidentified persons allegedly locked the hut from outside sometime after midnight on Friday and then set it on fire. With no means of escape, both occupants were charred to death inside.

Neighbours noticed smoke rising from the farmland and alerted authorities early in the morning. Police teams reached the spot around 7 am, by which time the hut had been completely gutted.

Victims identified, background emerges

The deceased were identified as T. Sakthivel, 55, a farmer and former ward councillor of the Pakkiripalayam village panchayat, and his partner S. Amirtham, 40. Sakthivel was associated with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Police said Sakthivel was earlier married to Tamilisai, 50, and the couple have three sons. Following marital disputes, Tamilisai moved to Bengaluru with the children about five years ago. Sakthivel later met Amirtham when she was working on his leased paddy fields. Amirtham was also estranged from her husband Sivakumar, 45, who lives in the same village with their three children.

Lived together for three years

After coming together, Sakthivel and Amirtham had been living for the past three years in a hut located on the farmland at the outskirts of the village. Locals told police that the couple largely kept to themselves, though their relationship was known in the area.

Investigators are examining whether personal enmity, family disputes or local tensions could have played a role in the crime.

Police launch manhunt, probe underway

The bodies were sent to the Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvannamalai town for post-mortem examination. M. Sudhakar, Superintendent of Police of Tiruvannamalai district, has formed special teams to identify and arrest those responsible.

Police said a detailed investigation is under way, with officers questioning villagers and analysing forensic evidence from the scene to piece together the sequence of events leading to the deadly arson.