Bolangir/Deogaon: A 65-year-old man died of burn injuries he suffered while allegedly trying to set his wife’s body on fire after killing her in Ramchandrapur village under Deogaon police limits in Bolangir district Wednesday, police said.
The deceased were identified as Upendra Kalsai and his wife, Damayanti Barik, 57, an auxiliary nurse-midwife. The couple, originally from Sundargarh district, had lived in a staff quarters at a local sub-health centre in the village for nearly three decades.
Police said the incident came to light after they received a tip early Wednesday and reached the staff quarters. Upendra suffered severe burn injuries while reportedly trying to set Damayanti’s body on fire. He was taken to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Bolangir but died from his injuries Wednesday afternoon, police said. Damayanti was found dead inside the quarters with head injuries. A steel bottle with blood stains was discovered near her body, they said.
Police said a domestic dispute may have prompted Upendra to assault his wife with the bottle, causing severe bleeding and her death. “Upendra then poured petrol on the body and attempted to set it on fire, during which he sustained severe burn injuries,” a police official said. Police registered a case and launched an investigation. A forensic team and SDPO Saroj Upadhyaya visited the scene. Locals said the couple’s two children were studying outside the district, and the couple was alone at home at the time of the incident.
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