Assam tea garden worker hacked to death by wife after an argument

After an argument, Banchini allegedly picked up a machete and attacked Atowa Bek in Assam’s Kokrajhar.

A 30-year-old tea garden worker was hacked to death with a machete allegedly by his wife after an argument in Kokrajhar, one of the Bodo Territorial Administrative Districts in Assam, police said on Monday.

Assam police said said Atowa Bek died on the spot after the attack. (Reuters File/Representative image)

Binanda Basumatary, the officer-in-charge of the Kokrajhar police station, said there was an argument between Atowa Bek and Banchini Bek on Sunday morning. Atowa abused and hit her with a brick before going out to work at the Daloabari Tea Estate.

“At 9 am he came back again to the residential quarters and started abusing her,” Basumatary said.

Atowa repeatedly asked Banchini to leave the house, according to the police, and then decided to rest in the house with a machete by his side. As he dozed off, Banchini allegedly picked up the machete and attacked him. “She hit him at least twice on his neck,” Basumatary said.

The officer said Atowa died on the spot.

“Atowa Bek had a history of abusing Banchini Bek,” Basumatary said.

Police, who were informed of the incident by the neighbours, arrested Banchini on Sunday. She will be produced in front of the magistrate on Monday.

The couple has two children.