Swathi murder: Ramkumar lodged with 'chatty' inmates 'to keep spirit up'

Chennai: P. Ramkumar, the alleged killer of Infosys techie S. Swathi, has been spending his days in jail with chatty inmates even as extra guards have been assigned to keep a suicide watch.

“We have put him with two inmates who are very talkative to keep his spirit up. He had shown a suicidal tendency during his arrest and we don’t want him to try it in jail. Additional guards are also posted in his remand cell,” jail sources said.

Meanwhile, city police sources said that that they would conduct an identification parade at the Puzhal prison premises, most probably on Monday to establish the role of the main accused Ramkumar in the murder of Swathi.

The investigators are expected to take their witnesses to the prison complex where they will be asked to identify Ramkumar, who will be paraded along with other inmates in front of them.

“We are hoping to finish the identification parade and custodial interrogation of the suspect this week itself,” a senior police official said.

Ramkumar, who was staying in a lodge in his victim's neighbourhood in Choolaimedu, had stalked Swathi for months before allegedly murdering her using a sickle at the Nungambakkam railway station on June 24.

The police arrested him a week later from his home in Shengottai, Tirunelveli when he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat.

On July 3, he was shifted to Royapettah government hospital and later on July 6, he was shifted to Puzhal prison. Ramkumar's bail plea hearing has been adjourned to July 15 by the Chennai High Court.