Double murder rocks Bihar’s Munger on Raksha Bandhan

Police are not clear about the reason for the incident which took place at Jamalpur in Bihar’s Munger district in the wee hours of Monday.

A railway employee who superannuated over a decade back, and his daughter-in-law were murdered, while his son and daughter critically injured after the septuagenarian’s nephew attacked them at Jamalpur in Bihar’s Munger district in the wee hours of Monday.

An anxious crowd outside victims' house at Jamalpur in Munger district. (HT photo)

The police were not clear about the reason for the attack.

Police said the accused, Sattan Hari, 45, a frequent visitor to the house of Jagdish Hari, 70, had come visiting from Patna on Sunday. He even had dinner with Hari’s family and decided to stay the night with them.

However, around 3am, he allegedly slit the throat of Hari and his daughter-in-law Seema Devi, 35, with a sharp knife, leading to their instant death.

Hari’s daughter, Ranjita Devi, and his son, Kiran Kumar, were also critically injured in the attack. Seema Devi’s six-year-old son and six-day-old daughter were, however, spared.

Victim Seema Devi's six-year-old son and six-day-old daughter.

Ranjita had come over to stay at her father’s house to celebrate ‘Raksha Bandhan’, a Hindu festival, in which women tie a string bracelet called ‘rakhi’ on their brothers’ wrists and pray for their good health and long life. This thread, which represents love means ‘a bond of protection’.

Confirming the incident, Munger superintendent of police Ashish Bharti told HT, “We do not know the reason for the killing, but are clear about the accused, who is absconding. We are investigating the matter and trying to get details.”