Post News Network
Cuttack: A man allegedly set fire to his sister and her three children at CDA Sector-VII in the city here Thursday.
The man, identified as Anadi Sahu, also suffered critical burn injuries in the incident along with his daughter Anita, both of whom are battling for life at SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Anita in a statement to police said she heard a commotion inside her house and when she rushed inside, she saw her father setting her aunt and cousins on fire. Anita and her father too sustained critical burns, but police said Anita was unable to say why her father resorted to the heinous act.
The deceased woman, identified as Kuna, her two daughters and son, had come to stay at Sahu’s home for the last few days. Neighbours said they heard the brother and sister having a heated argument earlier in the evening. Neighbours said it was ironic that the incident occurred on ‘Prathamashtami’.
Kuna and her three children were later watching television when Sahu in a fit of rage doused all of them in kerosene and set them on fire, Anita told police. He then rushed out of the room and shouted that a fire broke out at his home.
Some youths who were nearby rushed to the spot and tried to rescue the victims. However, Kuna and her three children died on the spot. Anita was rescued in a serious condition along with Sahu.
“Sahu’s daughter said her father tried to kill them by burning them alive. But she was unable to tell us why exactly he did so,” a senior police official said.
Sahu’s son Arun who runs a clinic and a medicine store in the locality said he was away when the incident occurred. “I rushed home and found the bodies of my aunt and her children. My father and sister are also in critical condition,” he said.
Fire brigade official Brajendu Bhushan Das, meanwhile, ruled out short-circuit as the cause of the incident.
District collector Nirmala Chandra Mishra, deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora and other officials rushed to the spot. Mishra said an inquiry will be ordered into the case. The bodies have been sent to SCB Medical College for post-mortem.