Koppal, 7 June

A shocking incident has rocked Hosa Ayodhya village in Gangavathi taluk of Koppal district, where an 18-year-old youth is suspected of attacking his family with a knife, resulting in the deaths of his father and sister and leaving his mother critically injured.

According to police, the accused, identified as Sai Venkatamani, allegedly attacked his father Venkata Naidu, mother Soujanya, 40, and sister Pragathi, 19, with a knife before injuring himself.

Police said that on Saturday evening, Venkata Naidu, his wife Soujanya, daughter Pragathi, and son Sai were sleeping in one room. Around 10.30pm, screams were heard from the room where the family was sleeping.

Naidu was reportedly heard shouting for help when his father, Tatarao, rushed to the room and tried to open the door, only to find it locked. He broke the door open with his neighbours' help to find the dreadful scene within.

Due to severe blood loss, Pragathi died at the scene. Despite medical efforts, Venkata Naidu succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning. Soujanya remains under treatment at the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Ballari. Sai Venkatamani himself has also been hospitalised, police said.

Senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police Ram L. Arasiddi, visited the scene and conducted an inspection.

"Venkata Naidu's father has lodged a complaint, and a murder case has been registered," said Arasiddi. The complaint expressed suspicion of his grandson, he added.