Angul: An elderly tribal couple was killed allegedly by their inebriated son at their Badapadar village home in Angul district.

The accused, Ghanashyam Baghar, 35, returned home drunk and had a verbal fight with his wife before beating her up. His parents, Karunakar Baghar, 62, and Champa Baghar, 55, tried to save their daughter-in-law from their son.

When the parents rebuked him for his actions, Ghanasyam picked up a hammer and hit both of them on their heads. The incident took place in the early hours of on Friday, police said.

The victims bled profusely and died on the way to the hospital.

The assailant fled after committing the crime. The police are looking for him. The accused is an alcoholic and he had committed the crime in an inebriated state, police said.

Alcoholism has become a major problems in the hamlets, predominantly inhabited by tribal people. The alcoholic habits of male earning members are breaking up the families. The police are trying to involve civil society groups to sensitise people to give up alcohol addiction.