Kendrapara: In a gruesome incident of murder, a man hacked at least three members of his family over a family feud in Madhusudanpur village under Patkura police limits in the district last night.
The deceased has been identified as Dhruba Das (80), Saraswati Das (65) and paternal aunt Pratima Das.
The accused identified as Bikram Das returned in an inebriated condition to his home last night and indulged in a verbal duel with his wife. Later, as the argument between the two escalated Bikram’s grandparents intervened in the matter and were later joined by his aunt.
“Bikram went berserk as the trio intervened in the quarrel and took out a spade to hack them mercilessly. Later he attacked his mother Ketaki Das as he tried to save the victims,” said Bikram’s father who is also an eyewitness to the incident.
Pratima and Ketaki were rushed to the Kendrapara DHH by the family members as Bikram fled from the spot immediately after the murder.
While doctors at the DHH declared Pratima brought dead, Ketaki was shifted to SCB Medical in Cuttack in a critical condition.
Patkura Police reached the spot and sent the bodies for autopsy to start efforts to nab the accused.
Prasanta Patnaik