Man batters wife to death, then hangs self

The Powai police is investigating a case where a 40-year-old man committed suicide after murdering his wife. The man allegedly battered his wife’s head with a hammer and then slit her wrists before hanging himself.

The couple was identified as Suresh and Preeti Bije, residents of a slum near Powai lake. The body was discovered late Tuesday night by relatives.

The police, which has recovered a hammer and a knife — both murder weapons, said that Suresh had left a suicide note mentioning that the couple had frequent fights. The Powai police said the incident occurred when Preeti was sleeping.

Investigators said that Suresh had gone to visit a cousin on Monday and returned home around 2 pm. “Prima Facie evidence reveals that Preeti's head was first bludgeoned with a strong heavy object and then both her wrists were slit. She was assaulted while she was sleeping,” an officer said. The officers also discovered the hammer and the knife on the bed where Preeti was sleeping.

Police officials said the couple had been married for seven years and had been trying to have a child for a long time. However, lack of children in the marriage had led to frequent fights between them.

Preeti’s cousin, Lalita, who visited them on Tuesday, discovered the bodies. She was visited the couple frequently.

“She knew that the couple was at home, but got confused when the door remained unanswered for a long time. She then called Suresh’s brothers. They broke the window and saw Suresh hanging from the ceiling and, after entering the house by climbing down through the roof, discovered Preeti lying dead on the bed,” said B.K. Mahadeshwar, senior police inspector, Powai police.

Officials said that family members of the couple revealed that Preeti had been undergoing treatment to have a child. “Suresh was also suffering from chronic headaches but though the couple fought regularly, what triggered him to murder his wife is still unclear,” said a senior police officer.