Chaibasa (Jharkhand), June 28 (IANS) A man allegedly hacked his pregnant sister-in-law and her eight-year-old daughter with an axe in Chaibasa area of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Sunday, police said, adding that the accused has been arrested.

The double murder in Maria Sai Tola in the Manjhari police station area of Chaibasa has sent shockwaves throughout the area.

Police said the weapon used in the crime was recovered shortly after the incident.

The deceased have been identified as Nanika Birua, 30, and her daughter Sharmila Birua, 8.

According to the police, Nanika’s husband, Dakhel Singh Birua, had gone to work in the fields at the time of the incident.

Taking advantage of his absence, the accused, Ramay Birua, entered the house and allegedly attacked Nanika with an axe following a dispute.

When Sharmila tried to protect her mother, she too was attacked by the accused. Both victims died on the spot.

The couple’s other daughter, Tulsi Birua, informed her father about the incident after reaching the fields.

When Dakhel Singh Birua returned home, the accused reportedly attempted to attack him as well. However, he managed to defend himself by picking up a stone, after which the accused fled towards the nearby forest.

Police said that another villager, Kande Birua, who tried to intervene, was also attacked with an axe and sustained injuries. He has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

On receiving information from villagers, a team from Manjhari police station reached the spot and sent the bodies to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The police launched a search operation in the forest and arrested the accused, Ramay Birua. The axe used in the crime was also recovered on his instance.

Preliminary investigation by the police suggests that a family dispute triggered the incident. Locals have also claimed that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time of committing the crime, a claim that the police are probing.

–IANS

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