Rourkela, June 12: A 38-year-old woman, whose husband is in jail, was murdered in front of her children by three of her neighbours, including a woman, at Sector V of the city this morning.

Past enmity seems to be the motive behind the murder.

The deceased, identified as Boby Bisoyi, 38, lodged a police complaint last night after her alleged killers had threatened to kill her following a quarrel.

Sector VII police arrested two accused, Chatura Nayak and Suniti Nayak, who are a married couple. But, Chatura’s brother, Surya Nayak, managed to escape.

The police said both the families had previous enmity and one of the accused, Suniti, had accused the victim’s husband of raping her two months ago. Mahila police had even arrested the decease’s husband, Babula Bisoyi, a casual labourer, and sent him to jail.

The neighbours said both the families used to share a good relationship. But, their friendship went sour after Suniti had lodged the rape complaint against him.

Since then, the families have been at loggerheads on petty issues.

“They used to taunt us and quarrel with us. They were harassing us and threatening to kill us,” said the deceased’s son, Gulsan Kumar Bisoyi.

Bisoyi said the police did not take any step last night. In the morning, again he went to the police station to pursue the matter.

On returning home from there, Bisoyi said: “The accused came with a sword and attacked my mother in our presence. Before I could understand what was happening, she was lying in a pool of blood.”

Sector VII police said both the women used to quarrel frequently.

“After receiving the complaint, we had sent our men to call the accused persons to the police station, but they were not available. We arrested Chatura and Suniti and are verifying Surya’s role. He is absconding,” said inspector-in-charge P.K. Das.

The body has been sent for the post-mortem and the weapon of offence has been seized.