Chennai: A young woman working as a teacher at a private school was brutally hacked to death by a love maniac who had been stalking her for quite some time in Chennai on Wednesday. The killer committed suicide by hanging himself at his house hours later.

According to the police, N.Francina, 24, who was working as a teacher at a private school, belongs to Indranagar of Keelashanmugapuram mandal in Thoothukudi district. Srigan Jenisten, 27, who was working at Thoothukudi harbor as a crane operator, has been harassing Fransica in the name of love. But she turned down his proposal to which Srigan developed a hate feeling towards her. Francina had also complained to her parents about Srigan stalking her for six months. In the process, her parents arranged her marriage in September first week and also advised Francina to quit the job at the school.

After the incident, the culprit also found dead by hanging himself at his house at Manal Street. The eyewitness said a young man in his late twenties, sporting a red-coloured T-shirt ran out of the church after the incident.

By this, the malevolent Srigan on Wednesday attacked Francina with a billhook ( a sickle-shaped knife with long handle) which he brought himself when she was praying in the church near the school where she was working. She was severely injured on her head and shoulders and was rushed to the nearby hospital where she soon succumbed to the injuries.

The weapon used by the killer and the corpse of Francina at the hospital

After the incident, the culprit also found dead by hanging himself at his house at Manal Street. The eyewitness said a young man in his late twenties, sporting a red-coloured T-shirt ran out of the church after the incident.

After visiting the spot, the Thoothukudi South Station police inspected the CCTV footage collected from the place inside the church and when they tried to trace the criminal, Srigan was found dead by hanging himself at his house.

Police, who received a complaint, said Francina was about to get relieve from the school on Wednesday.