Police suspect man of murdering wife, five-year-old son

A Virar resident allegedly murdered his wife and five-year-old son on Friday and then called the police.

A Virar resident allegedly murdered his wife and five-year-old son on Friday and then called the police.

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The police have detained Duttatray Patil (35), a medical representative, and are awaiting the post-mortem reports.

On Friday morning, residents of Gokul Avenue heard screams from Patil’s flat. When they rang the doorbell, no one opened the door. At 5 am, the Virar police got a call from Duttatray that his wife Mangala (30) and son Omkar were dead.

The police broke open the door — Duttatray did not open the door — and found Mangala’s body hanging from a dupatta from the ceiling fan in the living room and Duttatray sitting on the sofa, looking remorseful.

They found Omkar’s body on the bed in another room.

“We have detained him. In his statement, Duttatray said he found his wife hanging from the ceiling and son lying dead,” said Police Sub-Inspector Bharat Chaudhari.

“But we find his statement misleading. It appears that Mangala was first murdered and then hanged, and Omkar smothered to death by a pillow.”

“Neighbours said they heard the woman and boy scream as Patil was beating them. We are now awaiting the post-mortem reports,” added Chaudhari.

Neighbours told the police that the couple used to often fight as Duttatray suspected his wife’s character.