In Nagpur, a 70-year-old man has been accused of murdering his 42-year-old daughter-in-law with an axe. The incident occurred at their residence in Pahune Layout. Following the attack, the man attempted suicide by jumping into a well.
Reports indicate that the suspect had a history of frequent arguments with the victim, stemming from his suspicions that she was practicing witchcraft.
The victim, Lakshmi Pali, was a widow who had a 19-year-old son and a 21-year-old daughter. The accused, Nathulal Pali, blamed Lakshmi for performing black magic on her husband, Ravishankar, who died in 2019. The accused had earlier attempted to kill Lakshmi on Sept 9, but she managed to flee, said Yashodhara Nagar police. Around 12.30 pm on Saturday, Nathulal allegedly struck Lakshmi on the head with an axe after an argument, killing her on the spot.
But he remained afloat while clinging on to a stone, said police. The accused remains under police watch at the hospital, said senior inspector Yunush Chand Shaikh. Police sources said the accused, who suffered from joint pain, had been showing signs of mental disturbance. He levelled allegations of black magic against the victim, said police.
Nathulal then jumped into the well behind the house in an attempt to take his own life. Neighbours and family members raised an alarm. Fire brigade personnel rescued Nathulal, who was rushed to Mayo Hospital. Further details on his medical condition and formal arrest formalities are awaited. His wife too lives separately. Police are recording statements of family members and neighbours to reconstruct the sequence of events. A case of murder has been registered. Crime Branch senior inspector Vinayak Golhe too visited the spot.