Nanjangud: A man, allegedly killed his 21-year-old pregnant wife by strangulating her at Neelakanta Nagar in Nanjangud on Friday.

While the deceased has been identified as Lakshmi, who was seven months pregnant, her husband who allegedly killed her has been identified as Vijay, a native of Kodanahalli village near Kadakola in Mysuru taluk. As Lakshmi was seven months pregnant, she was staying in her parents’ house in Neelakanta Nagar.

Vijay and Lakshmi, who were in love, got married a year ago in the presence of their parents. As pregnant Lakshmi was staying at her parents’ house, Vijay used to come to his in-law’s house often to visit his wife.

It is learnt that Vijay, who was addicted to liquor, was physically and mentally torturing his wife Lakshmi. On Friday too, Vijay, who came to meet his wife in a drunken state, closed the doors of the room and reportedly strangled Lakshmi to death before fleeing, according to the complaint lodged by Lakshmi’s father Shekar at Nanjangud  Town Police.

Circle Inspector Shivamurthy and staff, who rushed to the spot, conducted mahazar and had shifted the body to MMC&RI Mortuary in Mysuru for post-mortem and later handed over the body to Lakshmi’s family members.

Nanjangud Town Police, who have registered a case in this regard, have launched a hunt to nab Vijay, who is absconding.