Chennai: A 19-year-old man was arrested at Central Railway Station on charges of murdering a 79-year-old woman and stealing her gold jewellery in Karur district on April 26. The accused, who was absconding, was traced to a Chennai-bound train and apprehended upon arrival.Police said the woman, Thayarammal, who was alone at home when murdered, was found gagged, with her hands and legs bound. Six grams of gold jewellery, including earrings and a nose ring, was reported missing from her person.Karur police initially arrested two suspects and remanded them in judicial custody a day after the murder. Pandeeswaran, identified as the third suspect in the case, fled. A special team tracked his movement and received information that he was travelling to Chennai on the Dhanbad Express.Based on the alert, Central railway police located the accused inside an unreserved compartment and arrested him. Police said he had previous criminal cases, including a robbery, to his name. Investigators said the accused had become acquainted with the other arrested persons while lodged in prison earlier, and this association led to his involvement in the crime.Pandeeswaran was handed over to Karur police for further investigation.
