CHENNAI: Two women, harassed and threatened by their male friend, roped in their social media acquaintances and murdered him near Pallavaram in Chennai on Thursday.The Pallavaram police arrested three people — two women identified as Reena, 24, and Ratchitha, 25, residents of Old Pallavaram, besides a 17-year-old juvenile — in connection with the murder. A search is under way for three more suspects directly involved in the murder.Police said Reena and Ratchitha were friends. While Reena is married, Ratchitha is unmarried. Investigations revealed that both women were active on social media, made reels and developed friendship with several young men online. Police said the women also extorted money from these men and led a lavish lifestyle.Reena came into contact with Selvakumar, 22, a construction worker from Tirusulam, through a social media site. Selvakumar entered into a close relationship with both the women, said police. Selvakumar, after getting drunk, frequently harassed the women and threatened them not to maintain contact with other men. This reportedly caused severe distress to Reena and Ratchitha, who believed that Selvakumar would continue to control and threaten them if he remained alive.As a result, the women decided to eliminate him. They discussed the plan with their friends, including Alex, 24, and a 17-year-old boy, along with two others.Around 10pm on Wednesday, Reena called Selvakumar and asked him to meet them at Subam Nagar near Old Pallavaram.When Selvakumar arrived at the location on his two-wheeler, four men came on two bikes and chased him before attacking him with machetes. He collapsed on the road with severe injuries, while the attackers fled.
