Bhubaneswar, April 8 – A retired government official was arrested by the police on Wednesday for stabbing his wife to death at their residence in Swastik Nagar, a village under the Airfield police station in Bhubaneswar.
The accused, Debaraj Sarangi, 62, was a former senior accountant at the AG Office here. He retired about two years ago. After his retirement, Sarangi, who was originally from the Nayagarh district, was living with his 55-year-old wife, Priyamvada, in the Swastik Nagar area, under the Airfield police station.
Police sources said that on Wednesday, the couple had a heated argument and a scuffle after Sarangi, who was reportedly under mental stress, insisted on leaving the house, which his wife opposed.
In a sudden fit of rage, the accused first assaulted the victim with his fists and then attacked her with a knife. He repeatedly stabbed her in the face and neck, leading to her death.
After the incident, the accused, Sarangi, handed over some cash and the victim's gold ornaments to his daughter, who was staying with her in-laws in the Patrapada area of the city.
Later, he went to the Airfield police station and surrendered, confessing to the crime.
The couple's daughter, Arpita, told the media that her father had been suffering from a liver infection for the past six months. His diabetes had also worsened recently, and he had been gradually losing weight. Worried about his condition, Sarangi remained under constant stress.
She added that just yesterday, she had tried to console her father and assured him that he would recover soon.
The investigating officials also ascertained that the accused had been suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver-related ailments for a long time, and as a result, was experiencing severe mental depression.
The police sources further claimed that the investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Sarangi was reportedly under mental stress and suffering from insomnia, and in a sudden, aggressive state, committed the crime.
Following his surrender and confession, Sarangi was arrested by the police and later produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.