Vellore cloth merchant ends life in city lodge

CHENNAI: A septuagenarian cloth merchant from Vellore was found hanging in a lodge in Kothavalchavadi on Friday. Police said they found a suicide note and were conducting an investigation in the deceased’s native town.Selvam (74) used to stay in the lodge when he came to Chennai on business or to visit a doctor. According to police sources, the victim was suffering from asthma and was taking treatment from a doctor in Mint. He used to visit the city once in six months.On Friday, hotel officials complained to the police that the man had locked himself in the room and was not opening it. Police broke open the door and found him hanging from the ceiling. In the suicide note he said that he was an orphan and was weak from an illness. He also said he had no money, a police official said, adding, “We found only a few clothes and `60 in the room.  He did not seem to be doing much business here. He bought the rope to hang himself.” Police said Selvam had mentioned the name of a 26-year-old man and the name of a street in Vellore in the suicide note. “We don’t know what relation he has with the man he has mentioned. We have sent a team to Vellore to investigate,” the official added.Woman MurderedA 45-year-old woman was found murdered near Periyapalayam on Saturday. Police said Lakshmi was found near a pond with her earring and chain allegedly missing. She was reportedly strangulated. Her husband Sellan (50) has been bedridden for the past six months. Police sources said that on Friday night, two persons had asked the woman for water. She had gone out of the house with water and since then had not returned, police sources said and added that an investigation was on to check if the woman had known the persons earlier and if the stealing of the gold jewellery was to mislead the cops. Car Rams LightpostA car rammed into a light-post at busy Cathedral Road on Saturday evening. Police said the occupants abandoned the car. They are inquiring with hospitals if the occupants have been admitted there and have also seized the car.Jilted Youth Kills SelfA 20-year-old committed suicide in Gummidipoondi on Friday. Police said Raji , working in SIPCOT, Tiruvallur district, was found hanging from the fan in his room by his roommates. He was allegedly frustrated over his girlfriend’s engagement to another man.