Man burns two wives, daughters to death

By A.K. Patnaik / www.indusvalleytimes.com Keonjhar, June 7: A man on Wednesday night killed his two wives and two daughters by burning the house in which they were sleeping. The incident occurred at Katupada village under Patna police station in Keonjhar district, 50 km from here. The accused Thakura Mahant (32), the police informed, had married Swaraswati Mohant (28) 10 years ago. As Swaraswti could not conceive even after three years of her marriage, she agreed to Thakura’s insistence for second marriage to her own sister Parvati Mahant (22). Parvati gave birth to two daughters – Janha Mohanta (5) and Sana Mohanta (1). According to the neighbours of the accused, the family lived quite happily after Parvati gave birth to two children. However, trouble started when Thakura suspected the character of his both wives and picked up quarrels with them accusing the illicit relationship with others. It is suspected that he locked his wives and daughters when they were in deep sleep last night and set the house on fire. When the villagers noticed the house burning, they informed the local fire office. However, by the time the fire fighters reached the spot, the house had completely burnt. The victims were charred beyond recognition. “The police seized the charred remains of the victims. We have arrested the accused who had fled the village after committing the crime. Investigation is on to find out if more people are involved in the incident,” inspector Ratan Kumar Sahoo said.