Godda (Jharkhand), May 8 (IANS) In a horrifying incident that has sent shockwaves across Jharkhand’s Godda district, a 60-year-old man allegedly brutally murdered his wife in front of their two minor grandsons after a domestic dispute while under the influence of alcohol, police said on Friday.

The gruesome crime took place in Ghasichak village under Surni Panchayat in Meharma block. The accused, identified as Kishan Das, is said to be addicted to alcohol and frequently quarrelled with his wife, Ruby Devi (55), over household matters.

According to local residents and a preliminary police investigation, Kishan Das returned home in an intoxicated condition on Friday and got into a heated argument with Ruby Devi. As the dispute escalated, he allegedly lost control and carried out a chilling attack inside the house.

Police said the accused first gagged his wife by stuffing a cloth into her mouth so that she could not scream for help. He then allegedly attacked her repeatedly with a sharp-edged weapon kept inside the house, inflicting severe injuries on her neck and body.

The incident unfolded in the presence of the couple’s two minor grandsons, Luv and Kush. Their grandmother was also present there at the time of the incident. Terrified by the brutal assault, the children screamed for help, drawing the attention of nearby villagers. However, by the time locals rushed to the house, the accused had already fled from the spot.

Ruby Devi was found lying in a pool of blood. Villagers immediately rushed her to a nearby hospital, from where she was referred to the Sadar Hospital due to her critical condition. Despite doctors’ efforts, she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

The traumatised children later narrated the horrifying sequence of events to the police.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, Meharma police station in-charge Saurabh Kumar Thakur reached the village along with a police team and began an investigation. Police have recovered the blood-stained sharp-edged weapon, believed to have been used in the murder.

Officials said raids are underway at several locations to trace and arrest the absconding accused. The incident has triggered fear and outrage in the village, with locals demanding strict action against the accused.

–IANS

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