A constable of district special operation group, engaged in anti-Naxalite operation, allegedly shot dead five of his relatives before turning the gun on himself here on Tuesday following a family dispute.
Narendra Khandapan, the SOG constable, fired at his father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and two others from his service rifle before killing himself.
“Gunshot marks were found on the bodies of all the deceased. The motive behind the incident appears to be family dispute, but the exact cause would be known after a thorough inquiry”, south-western range IG Yashwant Jethwa said.
Khandapan had married Jaytrimoyi two years back in Kakarigumma village. Sources said the couple used to quarrel frequently. When Jaytrimoyi’s relatives went to Khandapan’s residence to mediate, the enraged constable fired indiscriminately at all the five persons, who died on the spot, and later killed himself with the same gun.
Police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies.
Fortunately, Khandapan’s wife Jaytrimoyi and their kid were not in the residence when the incident took place.
As soon as the news of the killings spread, hundreds of locals rushed to the spot.