A 75-year-old man was allegedly murdered by his son following a dispute over ancestral property in Salem city on Wednesday (May 6, 2026).

The deceased was identified as D. Dhanapal, a resident of Sanniyasigundu Service Road under the Kitchipalayam police limits.

According to the police, Dhanapal’s son, Sridhar (42), was working at a vegetable shop at Sankari bus stand. He had reportedly been pressuring his father for a share in a 10,000 sq. ft. ancestral property at Raja Pillai Kaadu in Kitchipalayam.

On Wednesday morning, Sridhar allegedly travelled from Sankari to Salem and went to his house in Sanniyasigundu, where he is said to have taken and concealed a knife. He later confronted his father at the house entrance and demanded division of the property, leading to an argument. When Dhanapal refused, Sridhar allegedly stabbed him in the chest and hacked him with the knife, killing him on the spot. Dhanapal’s daughter, Priya, who attempted to intervene, sustained injuries to her hand, the police said.

Neighbours rushed to the spot, overpowered Sridhar, and alerted the Kitchipalayam police. The police recovered the body and sent it to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered, and Sridhar has been arrested. Further investigation is under way.