A youth was hacked to death at a burial ground in Sanaputhur near Gummidipoondi in the early hours of Friday.The deceased was R. Ranjan of Sanaputhur. According to the police, Ranjan regularly consumed alcohol with friends in the neighbourhood. Police sources said a few days ago, Ranjan had reportedly quarrelled with one of his friends. Residents intervened and brokered a settlement between the two.On Thursday night, Ranjan and the same friend were allegedly drinking at the burial ground when another dispute erupted. The police suspect the argument began after Ranjan allegedly made derogatory remarks about his friend’s wife.In the ensuing confrontation, the man allegedly attacked Ranjan with a knife before fleeing the spot. On Friday morning, passers-by spotted Ranjan’s body lying on a tomb and alerted the police. A police team recovered the body and sent it to Ponneri Government Hospital for a postmortem examination. Further investigation is under way. Published - August 15, 2026 12:30 am IST