Patna: A middle-aged man killed his wife and a minor daughter and seriously injured five other members of his family, allegedly in an inebriated condition, in Lakhisarai district, around 135km northeast of Patna, on Wednesday night.
Police said Shyamdev Manjhi, a resident of Reuta village under the jurisdiction of Chanan police station of the district, killed his wife Karmi Devi, 35, and daughter Nisha Kumari, 6, with a sharp-edged weapon following a fight over domestic issues.
Manjhi, 40, a habitual drunkard, also attacked his mother-in-law Daulti Devi and his four sons - Pawan Kumar, Lakshman Kumar, Sri Kumar and Kunal Kumar - when they tried to shield their mother and sister. He later set his wife and daughter on fire and fled the spot. The injured were rushed to the primary health centre from where they were referred to the Lakhisarai sadar hospital as their condition was said to be critical. The police recovered the charred bodies of the mother-daughter duo on Thursday.
The Chanan police station house officer (SHO) Sunil Kumar Jha said the police swung into action and arrested Manjhi from a nearby village. The police also recovered the weapon used in the crime.
The SHO said the accused confessed to the crime and said he had objected to his wife's illicit relationship with a neighbour. Manjhi was earlier arrested on the charge of brewing country liquor in violation of the prohibition law.
"Manjhi was released from jail a fortnight ago. He suspected his wife Kamri had an extra-marital relationship with a neighbour when he was in jail. He tried to convince his wife but in vain. Last night the couple fought over the same issue, which led to the incident," an investigating officer said.
Residents told the police the couple often quarrelled over domestic issues. Last week, Karmi was brutally assaulted by her husband. She, however, didn't report the matter to the police. Last night, he killed his wife and injured five others, leaving the residents in utter shock.
Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem. The report is awaited.
