Dehradun, August 30: In a shocking incident reported from Uttarakhand’s Ranipokhri, a 47-year-old man allegedly stabbed and killed his 36-year-old wife, three daughters aged nine, 11, and 13, and 75-year-old mother before slitting all of their throats after his wife "disrupted" his puja on Monday morning, reported Times of India.

The accused was identified as Mahesh Kumar, who hailed from Banda, UP, but was living with his family, wife Neetu Devi, mother Beetan Devi, and daughters Aparna, Swarna, and Annapurna, at his elder brother Umesh's house in Nagagher area of Ranipokhri for the last 10 years. His eldest daughter, 15-year-old Krishna, is the lone survivor in the family as she lives with her paternal aunt in Rishikesh, where she studies. Kumar had remained unemployed for the past decade and used to dedicate most of his time to prayers and puja at home. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man and His Second Wife Kill 7-Month-Old Baby in Lucknow, Dump Body in Fields

His brother Umesh, who works in Spain, would send him money for monthly expenses. Assam Horror: Caught in Compromising Position, Wife and Her Lover Kill Husband, Cut Body Into Pieces and Throw in Septic Tank in Nagaon

SSP (Dehradun) Daleep Singh Kunwar said that the incident took place between 6.45 and 7.15 am. "Kumar was performing puja on Monday morning after taking a bath when his wife, who was preparing breakfast, asked him to change an LPG cylinder as it had run out of fuel. This enraged him. He went to the kitchen accusing Neetu of disrupting his puja, and killed her and all his family members in a fit of rage."

Kumar's neighbour Subodh Jaiswal, also an eyewitness in the gruesome murders, who shares a common boundary wall with the family, told TOI that he rushed to help after he heard nine-year-old Annapurna scream. “We were busy with our morning chores when we heard Annapurna screaming and saying, 'Aunty, uncle save us. Papa has killed mom'." He added, "I crossed the boundary and knocked on the main door to check but no one opened it.

Meanwhile, Annapurna's screams intensified. I then went toward a window, only to see him brutally stabbing her as she lay on the floor. I also saw the bodies of his wife and other daughter lying in a pool of blood. I begged him to spare Annapurna but he slit her throat in front of my eyes. He then turned towards the window, gestured to me with his hand to leave, and closed it from inside."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2022 09:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).