TIRUNELVELI: A 17-year-old girl was hanged to death by her brothers in Tirunelveli for eloping with a dalit youth . Police have arrested the two brothers—M Murugan (24) and M Sodalaimuthu (20). "The two have admitted to committing the murder," a police officer said.

Police said that Gomathi, daughter a farmer from Tirunelveli district, was working in a seafood company in Tuticorin where she fell in love with a dalit youth, Murugan. When Gomathi’s family members learnt about the affair, they warned her to break the relationship. However, Gomathi continued her relationship with Murugan, a resident of Tuticorin. Irked by her attitude, her father Mayandi started making arrangements for her marriage with another man.

"Learning about the marriage plans, Gomathi eloped with Murugan two days back. However, Mayandi and his sons traced the girl and convinced her to return home, promising to get her married to Murugan," the officer said.

But after the girl was brought home, they started beating her. "Around 3pm on Friday, M Murugan and Sodalaimuthu tied a rope around her neck and hanged her inside the house. They attempted to project it as a suicide. But some of the villagers informed us. When we visited the spot and conducted inquiries, we realized that was a clear case of murder," he said.

Police immediately detained the two brothers and took them to the police station. After initial denial, the two admitted to have committed the murder, police claimed. Police suspect that the girl might have been poisoned before she was hung. The body has been sent for postmortem.