A domestic violence attack in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj region was reported in a shocking manner on Thursday, the 50-year-old man attacking his wife with an axe after a domestic dispute, killing himself, police said. The woman was seriously injured but is now being treated and is not in danger, said police.
The incident took place at about 10 am in Rur village of Khadini police outpost of Saurikh police station. Initial investigations indicate that the couple had an argument over a domestic issue and it turned violent when they had an argument over this which led to the clash of violence between them, Superintendent Vinod Kumar said in his statement.
Police said Govind Dubey attacked his 46-year-old wife, Aarti, with an axe in the fight, causing her to sustain severe injuries. Neighbors rushed to the house and took the injured woman to the Community Health Centre for treatment. Doctors referred her to Government Medical College in Tirwa for further treatment from a higher level of her condition, officials said.
Aarti is under treatment and is now out of danger, officials said. Doctors are still monitoring her condition while police are waiting for her to speak out.
After the attack, Govind left the house and walked to a place nearly 300 metres away, where he was later found dead, hanging from a tree. Police recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination to find out the cause of death and complete the legal formalities.
Circle Officer Suresh Kumar said a forensic science team visited the house and the spot where the body was recovered to collect evidence. Police are interviewing all the witnesses and trying to establish the sequence of events, he said.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Govind was addicted to alcohol and frequently argued with his wife over domestic disputes. Police believe recurring family disputes may have played a role in Thursday’s tragic incident; however, the exact reasons for the attack are still under investigation.
The couple’s family is devastated. Govind and Aarti are survived by their 19-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, who now face an uncertain future following the tragedy.
Police said statements from family members, neighbours and other witnesses are being recorded as part of the investigation. The forensic findings and post-mortem report will also provide further clarity on the sequence of events, the department said.
The police have warned the public not to speculate on the motive until the investigation is complete. Where appropriate legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the investigation, officials said.
