Nagpur man kills daughter-in-law with axe over black magic suspicion, case registered
Suspecting his daughter-in-law of witchcraft in his son's 2019 death, a Nagpur man hacked her to death and then jumped into a well
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A 70-year-old man allegedly killed his daughter-in-law with an axe in Nagpur on Saturday afternoon, suspecting her of practising black magic, before attempting to take his own life by jumping into a well. Police have since registered a murder case against him.
The killing took place in the Pahune Layout area near the Pili Nadi, under the jurisdiction of the Yashodhara Nagar police station. The victim has been identified as Laxmi Pali, also called Laxmi Ravishankar Pali, said to be around 40 to 45 years old. The accused is her father in law, Natthulal Pali.
According to police, Natthulal's son and Laxmi's husband, Ravishankar, died in 2019. Natthulal never came to terms with the loss and grew convinced that Laxmi had used black magic and occult practices to cause his son's death. The suspicion led to repeated quarrels between the two, and police said Natthulal had on more than one occasion threatened to kill Laxmi and then end his own life.
The dispute flared again on Friday evening and carried into Saturday. On earlier occasions, neighbours and the children at home had managed to calm Natthulal down, and a similar argument on Friday night was defused after locals stepped in.
On Saturday, however, the quarrel turned violent. Around 12.15 pm, with Laxmi's daughter away at work and her son also out of the house, Natthulal found her alone washing clothes and utensils behind the house. He picked up an axe and struck her on the head with such force that she died on the spot.
After the attack, Natthulal left the house and jumped into a well, described by some accounts as being behind the house and by others as near a temple about 100 metres away. Residents and local corporators who saw him raised an alarm and alerted the police control room, drawing a crowd to the spot. A team from Yashodhara Nagar police station reached the scene, and with the help of the fire brigade and local residents, pulled Natthulal out of the well. Water had entered his lungs by then, and his condition was described as critical as he was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Police carried out a panchnama at the scene and sent Laxmi's body to Mayo Hospital for a post mortem examination, while a forensic team collected evidence from the spot. A murder case has since been registered against Natthulal, and further legal proceedings are expected once the post mortem report is submitted. Police also said Natthulal's wife is in poor mental health. The killing has left the Pahune Layout area shaken.
