Man Strangles 10-Month-Old Son To Death, Kills Wife Before Hanging Himself

A man in India strangled his 10-month-old baby to death, then brutally murdered his wife before hanging himself in a double murder-suicide incident.

The police suspect the crime was triggered by a family feud. Sujan Pradhan, 34, killed his son and wife, identified as 28-year-old Runi, before hanging himself Wednesday at their home in the eastern state of Odisha.

“The infant was strangulated while the woman apparently had her throat slit and Sujan hanged himself. Though there are no eyewitnesses, we suspect Sujan killed his son and wife and then killed himself,” senior police officer Thakur Patra told media outlet Hindustan Times.

The police found a blood-splattered hacksaw blade, used to cut metal and wood, at the crime scene, which they believe Pradhan used to kill his wife.

The incident came to light when Pradhan's mother – who lived with them – came home and found the infant and his mother lying in a pool of blood. Pradhan was found hanging from the fan.

“Its been two years they have been married. Srujan and his wife started leaving separate from their family members after marriage. There was some family dispute among them, but I am not sure why they took such an extreme step," Pradhan's mother told Kalinga TV.

An investigation team rushed to the scene and sent the bodies of the victims for an autopsy. A probe has been launched to determine the exact cause of death.

In a similar incident in May, a man killed his wife and 1-year-old child before ending his own life. The police said the man was frustrated after losing his job amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The incident took place in the western Indian city of Pune. Hemant Shinde, 38, strangled his wife to death and later slit his son's throat. He then hanged himself.

In another incident the same month, a 33-year-old man killed his wife and 13-month-old son before taking his own life in the western state of Rajasthan. The double-murder suicide took place following a domestic dispute.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.