Dhenkanal, May 31: A 60-year-old former state government employee strangled to death his 30-year-old mentally challenged son before ending his own life here last night.

The deceased have been identified as Shaktiprasad Acharya, the former accountant of water supply and sanitation division of the rural development department, and Bidu, his son.

Acharya left behind a suicide note, holding himself responsible for the twin deaths.

Acharya's wife Nalini today said Bidu used to sleep with her, but last night, he had insisted on sleeping with his farther. At the dead of the night when she woke up and looked into their room, she found Bidu lying dead.

"He had injury on his throat and a nylon rope was lying near the bed," said Nalini.

Finding her son in such a condition, she searched for her husband in the house, and to her utter dismay, Nalini found him hanging from the ceiling in the storeroom.

Acharya is said to have taken the drastic step after being driven to desperation by the plight of his son, who had been bed-ridden for quite a long time.

Family sources said Acharya had taken voluntary retirement to look after Bidu, who ran into health problems after completing his Plus Two.

Bidu had been suffering from neurological problems and mental retardation for the past 15 years.

According to the deceased's family members, all efforts of Bidu's parents to get him cured failed.

The 30-year-old youth was very obstinate and used to pester his parents to fulfil all his demands.

A relative of the Acharyas said that at times, Bidu's parents had to rush to the market even at the dead of the night to fetch what he demanded.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the town.

One of the Acharyas' neighbours said Shaktiprasad was a good man and had no enmity with anybody.

However, he used to remain sad and worried about his bed-ridden son.

"He was extremely worried about his son, who had been ailing for a long time. He might have done this out of frustration," said one of Acharya's relatives.

Inspector in charge of Dhenkanal town police station Pradip Pradhan said: "We have seized the suicide note and will send it to the forensic laboratory to verify its authenticity. We have also sent the bodies for post-mortem. The report will unravel the mystery behind the twin deaths."

"Preliminary investigation shows that Shaktiprasad was frustrated and tired because of his son's prolonged illness. This might have driven him to this ghastly act." said Pradhan.

Bidu was Acharya's youngest son. His two elder sons are employed in banks.