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| Puran Rai, who was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of the couple in Kalimpong on Thursday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha |
The residents of Lower Beong were told about the incident by the couple’s eight-year-old daughter, who was spared by the attacker though she was at home.
Dominique Bhutia used to do odd jobs, while his wife Christina, 35, was a homemaker.
Kalimpong police detained a youth from Lower Beong, 30km from here, for his suspected involvement in the murders, though they were yet to find out the motive behind the attack.
“The villagers saw the body of Christina near the door of the house and that of Dominique on the bed. The elder daughter was found in an unconscious state inside the house,” said a teacher at the local Gitdabling High School.
Sources said Christina’s left hand had been severed from above the wrist.
The police said they had picked up Puran Rai, who is in his early 30s, in connection with the murders on the basis of information given by the injured girl.
“Rai was known to the Bhutia family. The injured daughter told the police that a certain Puran mama was the culprit. She also said he had his face covered at the time of the attack. The police are trying to unearth the motive. One theory is that Rai was upset with Dominique over a water tank project being implemented in the village under the rural employment guarantee scheme. We have brought Rai to Kalimpong and are interrogating him,” said a police source.
Rai, the local people said, did not have any steady job and had the reputation of being a bit of a toughie.
Villagers said Dominique used to do odd jobs in Lower Beong and neighbouring villages under Gitdabling gram panchayat and was liked by the local people.
“He used to work as labourer and collect money from subscribers for the local cable television operator as well. He was a very social person and we all liked him. We are still at a loss to understand how someone could kill such a gentle person like Dominique,” said Nigen Lepcha, who said he lived next to the house of the deceased.
Lepcha had accompanied the elder daughter of the Bhutias to the Kalimpong subdivisional hospital. The 12-year-old girl, who is a student of Class V, had received injuries on her head and body. “Her left eye and right hand are severely injured. She has been referred to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri,” said the police source.
Doctors at the NBMCH said the girl’s condition was critical and she was kept under observation. They said because of multiple injuries, there was a lot of bleeding.
The younger daughter of the Bhutias is with their relatives in the village.
Anjali Singh, the additional superintendent of police, Kalimpong, was not willing to reveal much on the detention of Rai.
“We will brief you all as and when we get sufficient information,” she told The Telegraph.
Source: Telegraph
Following is reported by EOI
In a shocking incident today, a husband and wife from Gidabling near Kalimpong were brutally hacked to death with a sharp weapon by some unknown miscreants, while their 12-year-old daughter sustained major injuries. Fortunately, no harm came to the couple’s younger daughter, aged 7.
The deceased, Dominic Bhutia and Christina Bhutia, were daily wage workers, and they were found dead inside their house this morning, lying in a pool of blood.
The police have detained a neighbour named Puran Rai for questioning, but are yet to establish the motive behind the murder. They have also ruled out robbery and political vendetta as the Bhutias were weak financially and kept no political affiliations. Area residents are stupefied with the coldblooded murder as the victims’ house is located in an isolated area of the village. Moreover, with the football world cup ongoing, many residents were still in bed when the incident occurred.
Dominic was a hardworking man and neither had any ill reputation nor made enemies. The family used to go about their daily routine in a decent manner and was always helpful to everyone in the village. But the manner in which the couple was murdered has shocked the village residents who have demanded a thorough probe.
Meanwhile, the residents said Puran Rai and his father Hajit Rai have earned a bad reputation as they have been involved in numerous fights and altercations. Puran is currently being interrogated, but he has reportedly denied of any involvement in the gruesome killings.
Dominic’s elder daughter, Yaki Ongmu Bhutia, who sustained grievous injuries in her head and hand, was rushed to the Kalimpong sub-division hospital by neighbours. She has been referred to Siliguri for further treatment.
The incident is one of the most ghastly the region has ever witnessed. Christina’s hands have been severed and there are deep cuts all over her body, while Dominic’s hands too were cut off and his face and neck bear multiple cuts. Both died on the spot. The police have sent the bodies for postmortem.
