Relatives break down at the news of the murders in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov. 5: A 26-year-old woman and her three-and-a-half year old daughter were murdered at their Gotanagar home here today.

Police said Archana Kumar and her daughter Violina were found lying dead on a bed with their throats slit early this morning.

The victim’s husband, Dilip Kumar, 30, who was found unconscious and bleeding from multiple stab wounds, has been admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in a serious condition.

Dilip is a grocery storeowner. Archana’s mother-in-law Bina Kumar — who lives in an adjacent house — suspected something amiss when she noticed the door of her son’s residence slightly ajar around 6.30am.

When she pushed open the door, she was appalled to see the bodies and cried out. Her cries alerted the neighbours, who informed the police. An ambulance was brought to take Dilip to the hospital.

The police suspect that the murders were committed after 1am as the family had returned home between 12.30am and 1am after watching Ras at a nearby satra.

The police have registered a case of murder at the Maligaon outpost under Jalukbari police station and the bodies have been sent to the GMCH for autopsy after an inquest by an executive magistrate.

The twin murders have sent ripples across the locality.

“It was a horrible sight. Violina was such a lovely child. I can’t even imagine anyone can be so beastly,” said Kagan Kalita, one of the victims’ neighbours.

The top brass of city police visited the spot.

“We expect something positive from the fingerprints that the forensic experts have collected from the crime scene,” a police official said.

A bloodstained khukri (dagger), a kitchen knife and a mobile handset were recovered from the spot.

The police ruled out robbery as the motive as an iron almirah was found intact.

“Here the intention of the assailants was to kill,” the police official said.

“The statement of Dilip Kumar holds the key. We have not been able to talk to him as he is still undergoing treatment,” the official said.

He said that during investigation they had come to know that Dilip was the treasurer of a voluntary organisation, Akashdeep, that operated a chit fund.

“We have heard about some financial irregularities going on in Akashdeep and we are investigating into it,” the source said. “However, our investigation is at a preliminary stage,” he added.