Bhubaneswar: A retired govt officer allegedly killed his wife in Bhubaneswar’s Airfield area on Wednesday after she reportedly tried to stop him from taking his own life amid prolonged depression linked to his diseases. The deceased was identified as Priyambada Sarangi (55).According to police sources, around 10 am her husband Debraj Sarangi (62) reportedly took out a kitchen knife intending to harm himself in his home. When his wife intervened, a scuffle broke out, during which he allegedly slashed her throat, police sources said.“Prima facie investigation suggests he had no prior motive to kill his wife. There was no disturbance in the family. The incident appears to have taken place in the heat of the moment when she tried to prevent him from committing suicide,” said DCP Jagmohan Meena.After the incident, Debraj went to his daughter Arpita’s home in Patrapada area here, handed her some cash and jewellery without revealing what had happened, and later surrendered at the Airfield police station.Arpita confirmed her father had been under severe stress. “He had been depressed for six months due to multiple ailments involving hypertension, diabetes and liver. He withdrew from us, stopped watching TV, and remained aloof. Just three days ago, I got some medical tests done, and the reports were normal. I counselled him last evening,” she said.Arpita added that on Wednesday morning, her father called to ask her to recharge her mother’s phone. “Around noon, he visited my home, gave me jewellery and cash, and left without explanation. An hour later, I received a call from police about the incident,” Arpita said.Relatives expressed shock. “We knew he was mentally disturbed due to illness, but never imagined it would lead to such a tragedy. After retirement from service two years ago, he recently constructed his own house and was happy before multiple diseases robbed him of peace,” said Sarat Kumar Dash, a relative. “Just 10 days ago, he asked me to bring wheat flour. Today, when I reached his home with it, police were already there,” he said.During interrogation, police said Debraj was apologetic. “He regretted his action and told us he was not in a sound state of mind during the scuffle. He said he still intends to take his own life one day,” an officer at Airfield police station stated.
