Thiruvananthapuram: A man who killed his wife by stabbing and slitting her throat has surrendered to police.

Sajiv Kumar (46) of Anoor House from Madappadu, Mullasseri, had killed Smitha (38) on Wednesday night at 11.30. Arrested after surrendering in police station, Sajiv will be produced before a court today.

Smitha was a saleswoman at a medical store in Nedumangad. The police said an inebriated Sajiv used to beat her frequently.

On Wednesday, she sought refuge in a neighbour’s house. When she returned, Sajiv stabbed her behind her right ear. Dragging her on to the front yard of the house, he slit her throat with another knife. Neighbours did not respond to her cries since the abuse was frequent.

Sajiv’s mother Santhakumari and daughters Parvathy (class 10) and Bhadra (class 9) were home at the time.

Locking the front door from the outside, he covered the body with sari. Sajiv then told the neighbours he has killed Smitha and directed them not to let his children out. He then left for the police station on his scooter.

Their's was a love marriage. Smitha had left several jobs at hospitals because of Sajiv’s pressure. He destroyed her certificates, the neighbours said.

She had joined the drug store recently.

Locals demanded action against Santhakumari too before Smitha’s body was taken for autopsy.

Smitha’s parents B Manoharan and Indira Devi are engaged in rubber tapping on a rented plantation in Wayanad.

She will be cremated on family property at Karode, Vilappilsala, once her parents arrive.