Kannan and his wife Muthulakshmi, 38, had gone to the police station to settle a domestic dispute, police said. Muthulakshmi, with whom Kannan had frequently quarrelled suspecting her fidelity, had separated from him and been living with her father for the past two years, police said.
Kannan had filed a police complaint seeking custody of his three sons from Muthulakshmi, their mother, they added. Police were enquiring the couple today when Kannan pulled out his sickle and allegedly hacked his wife, seriously injuring her. He fled the scene before before the police could react, and Muthulakshmi died on the way to hospital, police said.