Feb 14, 2012: Man hacks wife to death, lynched by mob

TNN | Feb 14, 2012, 01.36AM IST

AIZAWL: In yet another case of domestic violence in the state, a 30-year-old man murdered his wife with a machete on Sunday and was later lynched by an irate mob in Tlungvel village, about 60 km south of Aizawl.

The man, Kapmawia, hacked his 24-year-old wife Vanlalthuami on Sunday afternoon while most villagers were attending Sunday mass in the church.

Eyewitnesses said Kapmawia and Vanlalthuami were at the latter's father's house. They heard raised voices as the couple were having a heated quarrel after which Vanlalthuami was seen running out of the house, chased by her husband. Kapmawia pursued his wife and hacked her to death in front of his father-in-law's residence, the eyewitnesses said.

On hearing the commotion, people came out from neighbouring houses and saw Kapmawia butchering Vanlalthuami, but they didn't dare help her as he was armed with a machete and could've turned on anyone.

However, after more people gathered, the murderer was caught and beaten to death by an angry mob.

Police officials from Bawngkawn PS in Aizawl rushed to Tlungvel village and conducted an investigation till late last night; autopsy on the two bodies will be performed on Monday.

The primary investigation revealed that Vanlalthuami died of multiple injuries inflicted with a sharp weapon, especially on her head and neck. Police said while the motive of the murder was yet to be ascertained, jealousy on the part of the husband could not be ruled out.

Kapmawia and Vanlalthuami eloped in December last year and were living together since then in Aizawl without a formal wedding. Vanlalthuami's father, Lalrama, asked the couple to come to Tlungvel village and formalize the union.

Kapmawia, who works as a manual labourer in south Mizoram's Lawngtlai, returned to Tlungvel village on Thursday. Lalrama was quoted as saying that he wanted to the two to formalize the union and did not suspect anything was amiss between them while the couple lived at his house since Thursday.

Vanlalthuami was reported to have a young son from her first marriage.

Link: Man hacks wife to death, lynched by mob