Post News Network
Paradip, Oct 11: In a chilling crime, a woman and her 18-month-old daughter were allegedly burnt to death by her husband and his second wife at Gobindpur village under Abhayachandpur police limits near here in Jagatsinghpur district late Saturday night.
The victims were identified as Prabhati Das (35) and her 18-month-old daughter Agasti. The matter came to light after their charred bodies were found in a gutted hut Sunday by neighbours Sunday, said additional superintendent of police Madhabanand Sahu.
Prabhati’s husband Subhendu Bhoi and his second wife Lakshmipriya and an accomplice identified as Prasanna Das were detained by police for interrogation in connection with the horrific incident, Sahu said.
According to details revealed by police sources, Prabhati and Subhendu, both residents of Gobindpur village, were in a relationship for the last several years. Prabhati became pregnant with Subhendu’s child. However, Subhendu’s family was reluctant to accept Prabhati, following which Subhendu took Prabhati to a short-stay home in Cuttack where she delivered a baby boy.
Later, Subhendu took both mother and son and sheltered them at a house in Balasore where Prabhati worked in a hotel to earn a living for her and her son. During her stay in Balasore, Subhendu would regularly visit her and over the course of time Prabhati gave birth to two girls.
When Prabhati returned to her village, she was shocked to know that Subhendu was already married. Prabhati started living in a thatched house on the outskirts of the village with her youngest daughter while her other two children were living in an orphanage in Balasore.
When Prabhati demanded that Subhendu accept her as his wife and take care of her children, Subhendu along with his wife Lakshmipriya hatched a plan to eliminate her.
The day before the incident, Subhendu, Lakshmipriya and Prasanna had a feast and got drunk outside Prabhati’s house, and later set the house alight with Prabhati and her daughter inside.
Both were burnt to death. The charred remains were sent for forensic examination. A scientific team was pressed into service to aid in the investigation.
