Pastor and 4 others held for murder

Erode (Tamil Nadu)

A pastor and four others, including three college students, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 25-year-old man here over a love tangle, police said today.

According to police, Franklin Paul (35), pastor of a church in Kongarapalayam, had hatched a conspiracy with four others to do away with Arulalan, as he suspected that the youth had an affair with a girl whom he wanted to marry after getting a divorce from his wife.

The five allegedly gave a poison-laced softdrink to Arulalan following which he died on March 6. They threw the body in a canal, whose recovery two days later, led to the arrests yesterday.

They allegedly confessed about their involvement in the murder, police said.

They were produced before a court, which remanded them to 15 days judicial custody.

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