Rourkela, April 26: Unidentified assailants killed Milko Badaik, 30, a mason, his wife Arati, 25, and three-year-old son Adikunj at Balughat here today.

Milko was staying with his family on the side of National Highway No. 143. "This morning, the front door of the Badaiks was found locked from outside. None took it seriously and just ignored it," said one of their neighbours.

He also said: "When the door did not open for a long time, people began to worry. A person from the neighbourhood forcefully opened the door. Inside, the trio was found in a pool of blood. Police was informed immediately. The police officials seized one briefcase and a pair of slippers from the scene of crime."

"According to initial investigation, it appears that more than one person were involved in the crime, and I cannot say more beyond this at this point of time," Panposh deputy superintendent of police Tushar Kant Jena said.

Another neighbour said that the Badaiks did not have any enemy.

Budhia Oram, one of the neighbours, said: "Milko was a simple man and had no enmity with anyone. Everyone liked him."

In a separate incident, two members of another family were assaulted with a hammer and were left in a critical condition at Rooptola that is barely one km from Balughat.