A horrifying crime in Jharkhand’s Dumka district has left an entire community shaken after four members of a single family were found brutally murdered early Sunday morning. The victims—a couple and their two young children—were discovered in and around their home under circumstances that police described as deeply disturbing and unusually violent. The incident has sparked panic among residents and prompted a major police mobilisation as investigators work urgently to determine what led to the killings.
According to initial findings, 24-year-old Aarti Kumari and her two small children, four-year-old Rohi and two-year-old Viraj, were attacked with a sharp-edged weapon while they were asleep inside their house. Aarti’s husband, 30-year-old Birendra Manjhi, was found dead nearly half a kilometre away in a nearby field. His location has raised additional questions about whether he was chased, abducted or forcefully taken from the house before being killed.
Villagers discovered the bodies early in the morning while heading out for daily chores. Shocked by the gruesome sight, they immediately alerted others, triggering widespread alarm in the locality. Hansdiha police soon arrived and secured the area, cordoning off multiple locations linked to the crime. Given the absence of clear leads and the unusually brutal nature of the murders, investigators have brought in a dog squad and forensic specialists to examine the house, the field where Birendra was found, and the path connecting the two sites. Police say they are exploring every possible angle, including personal rivalry, family disputes, land or property issues and the possibility of an external assailant.
The family’s elderly father, Manoj Manjhi, who lives nearby, has been cooperating with the investigation and providing background details to officers. Birendra and Aarti had been married for six years, and the police are reviewing their family history and recent activities to uncover potential motives. Dumka Superintendent of Police Pitambar Singh Kherwar said the brutal killing of four people from a single household has “shocked the entire district.” He added that multiple teams have been deployed to gather evidence, interrogate villagers and piece together the sequence of events as authorities intensify the search for those responsible.
