A familial dispute escalated into violence and the gruesome deaths of three family members, as a 30-year-old man residing in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh allegedly axed his wife and three children to death, police said on Saturday morning. According to police, the spine-chilling crime unfolded at the family’s home in Kabirpur village in the city.

The ones who were hacked to death have been identified as Khema Patel (27), her daughter, Urmila (7) and two of her sons.

Couple had a history of domestic arguments

Police said the couple frequently argued with each other over the last one year. Damoh Superintendent of Police (SP) Anand Kaladgi said Khema had also filed a dowry harassment complaint against her husband at Magron Police Station six months ago.

He added, “Six months ago, Khema had filed a dowry harassment complaint at Magron police station, though family members attempted reconciliation.”

During a probe, the police came to know that fresh tensions erupted between the couple on Friday, when another argument broke out at their home. Their kin intervened and tried to defuse the situation before leaving after they thought the matters had settled.

However, in the early hours of Saturday, the accused, Dwarka Patel, allegedly axed his wife Khema and three of his children while they were asleep.

Patel found sitting outside house with blood-stained axe

What came as a shocker was that the accused allegedly did not flee the scene. Instead, he was found sitting outside his house with the blood-stained axe.

SP Kaladgi said, “We received information at 6.30 am that a man was sitting with an axe outside his house claiming he had killed his family members. A police team rushed to the spot and arrested him.” The police have now mounted a probe into the circumstances leading up to the alleged murders, including the earlier disputes involving the couple and the dowry harassment complaint filed by Khema.

The investigating police personnel are also recording statements from family members and other people who are aware of the events preceding the incident.

Cops piecing together sequence of events

The police are now trying to piece together the sequence of events surrounding the deaths, including the argument that broke out on Friday and the alleged attack, which transpired on Saturday. Police said further details are likely to emerge as the investigation progresses.