Assam teacher allegedly kills wife, two children with machete; 13-year-old daughter critical

A school teacher allegedly hacked his wife and two children to death with a machete at their home in Assam's Dhemaji district on Wednesday morning, police said.

The man's eldest daughter, 13, was also injured in the attack at their residence in Telam Bazar in Jonai town. She is undergoing treatment at a local hospital and her condition is critical, a police officer said.

The deceased were identified as Chinuara Begum, 33, her eight-year-old son Shakil Ali and five-year-old daughter Rijika Begum.

The accused, an assistant teacher at Gamchuk Primary School, has been arrested. Police also seized the machete allegedly used in the attack from the residence.

The motive behind the killings is yet to be established, although economic hardship is suspected to have played a role, the officer said.

The accused told reporters that he carried out the attack because of financial constraints. He claimed that he earns Rs 10,000 a month as a teacher.

A forensic team visited the residence and collected evidence as police continued questioning the accused.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination, the officer said.

Police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the attack and are questioning the accused to establish the exact motive.