A villager in this district hanged himself to death on Sunday evening after killing his stepson (7) and five-month pregnant wife, police have said.
Nalaas Klan on the fringes of Rajpura town, about 30 kilometres from Patiala, woke up to this gruesome incident on Monday. It was the couple’s second marriage, solemnised last year. The victim child was from the wife’s first marriage.
Didar Singh (32), who drove a self-owned taxi, stabbed his wife, Navjeet Kaur (30) five-to-six times with a blade at his house when the child, Manpreet Singh, was taking a bath, claim police. “In a fit of rage, Didar pulled him out of bathroom and stabbed him as well. He then walked out of the house and hanged self from a tree in a field nearby,” said deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Rajinder Singh Sohal.
The three bodies lay together when police reached the village after Didar’s parents called them. Sohal said marital discord might have led the man to take the extreme step, since Didar’s parents have also claimed that the couple often had abusive arguments. The killings started at 9pm on Sunday, though the trigger is unclear yet. “Didar’s father was at a wedding in Banur and his mother was at a gurdwara nearby for her daily prayer routine. Didar found his way clear,” said the officer.
Since the house is in an isolated part of the village, neighbours were caught unaware. Besides, the gurdwara loudspeaker was on at the time of murders, which might have suppressed the screams of the victims. “A case has been registered,” said DSP Sohal.
{{/usCountry}}Since the house is in an isolated part of the village, neighbours were caught unaware. Besides, the gurdwara loudspeaker was on at the time of murders, which might have suppressed the screams of the victims. “A case has been registered,” said DSP Sohal.
{{/usCountry}}Navjeet Kaur’s other child from her first marriage lives with her parents. A relative remembered Didar as a kind-hearted man dedicated to his work.