COIMBATORE: A man went on a killing spree and allegedly hacked his son, two daughters, and 38-year-old wife with a sickle near Attur in Salem district early on Wednesday.
The suspect attacked his family as he allegedly had a relationship with another woman in Neyveli, police said.
He was also suspicious of his wife’s conduct. Dhavamani warned him to end his relationship with the woman, and this led to frequent quarrels between them.
Following the attack, his son Arulprakash (5) and daughter A Vidyadharani (13) died on the spot, wife Dhavamani (38), and second daughter A Arulkumari (10) are being treated for near-fatal injuries at the government medical college hospital in Salem.
The accused, Ashok Kumar (42), is also undergoing treatment at the same hospital after he tried to end his life by injuring himself, police said. The family was residing at Krishnapuram village at Gangavalli taluk in Salem district.
Ashok Kumar, a daily-wage labourer at Neyveli in Cuddalore district, used to quarrel with his wife whenever he returned home. On Tuesday evening, he returned home and started quarrelling again, police said.
Suspect was drunk during attack: SP
In the early hours of Wednesday, Dhavamani’s neighbours heard screams from the house. When they rushed there, they found the three children, along with their mother, lying in a pool of blood. Ashok Kumar was also found outside the home with injuries.
After being alerted, Gangavalli police rushed to the spot and took them to a government hospital in Attur. However, doctors declared Arulprakash and Vidyadharani dead on arrival. After providing first-aid treatment to Dhavamani and Arulkumari, they were referred to the government hospital in Salem.
According to police, the incident took place around 4am.
Speaking to TNIE, Goutam Goyal, Superintendent of Police, Salem, said the suspect was under the influence of alcohol when he carried out the deadly attack.
Gangavalli police have registered a case under Sections 103 and 109 of the BNS.