JODHPUR: An elderly woman was killed in a brutal attack with an axe, and her two minor granddaughters were drowned in a water tank at their home in a village in Jodhpur district on Wednesday afternoon.
All three victims-Bhanwari Devi, 68, and her granddaughters Bhawna, 5, and Lakshita, 3-were dead when a police team arrived on the scene at Nandra Khurd village under Banar police station in Jodhpur district. Santosh, 27, the mother of the two deceased girls, was found severely injured there. She was rushed to a hospital.
DCP says family dispute may be behind gruesome crime DCP (east) Alok Srivastava said Bhanwari Devi and Santosh were apparently attacked with an axe and that the killer drowned the two girls in the water tank built at the house.
Srivastava ruled out robbery or theft as the likely motive behind the crime, saying a family dispute could be behind the gruesome crime.
Santosh had recently come to her parental home with her husband, Kishanaram, and their two daughters, said a police official.
"On Wednesday afternoon, Santosh, her mother Bhanwari Devi, and Bhawna and Lakshita were at home. Someone entered the house and attacked Bhanwari Devi on the head with an axe, killing her instantly. Santosh was also struck on the head and was seriously injured. The attacker drowned both of Santosh's daughters in the water tank built in the house, killing them," the police officer added.
Police are gathering information from family members, including Bhanwari Devi's sons, Pukhraj and Ashok, who live in the same compound where the murders occurred, said Srivastava.
A police dog squad is also searching the crime scene and surrounding areas for evidence, Srivastava said.
"Some leads have been obtained, and the perpetrators will be arrested soon," said Srivastava.