Man Arrested for Allegedly Killing Wife and Daughter with Venomous Snake in Odisha

Berhampur (Odisha), November 24 (PTI) – A shocking incident unfolded in Adheigaon village, located in Odisha’s Ganjam district, as a 25-year-old man was apprehended by the police for the alleged murder of his wife and two-year-old daughter. The accused has been accused of releasing a venomous snake into their room, leading to their tragic demise.

The accused, identified as K Ganesh Patra, had been entangled in a marital dispute with his 23-year-old wife, K Basanti Patra. The couple, who tied the knot in 2020, also had a two-year-old daughter named Debasmita, whose innocent life was also taken away in this horrific incident.

Investigations reveal that the accused had deceitfully obtained a snake from a snake charmer, falsely claiming that he required it for religious purposes. Shedding light on the matter, a police official stated, “On October 6, the accused procured a cobra in a plastic jar and surreptitiously unleashed it inside the room where his wife and daughter were peacefully sleeping. Tragically, the next morning, both victims were discovered lifeless, succumbing to snake bites, while the accused comfortably slept in another room.”

Initially, the police registered a case of unnatural death, but after the father-in-law of the deceased lodged an FIR, accusing the husband of being involved in the demise of his daughter and granddaughter, the investigation took a new turn. Ganjam Superintendent of Police, Jagmohan Meena, stated, “Due to the delay in collecting evidence against the accused, his arrest came a month after the incident. During interrogation, he vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that the snake must have entered the room on its own. However, later on, he confessed to committing this heinous crime.” The SP further added that the investigation is still ongoing.