At Sitalkuchi in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district early on Friday, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) panchayat-level leader, her husband, and their daughter were hacked to death, according to police, news agency ANI reported.
The police also stated that another daughter of the deceased couple was critically injured and is fighting for her life in the hospital.
Locals apprehended the main suspect and attacked him. He is now a patient at the medical centre. The police said that they had detained two additional people for interrogation, HT reported.
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The victims have been named as 52-year-old Neelima Barman, 68-year-old Bimal Kumar Barman, and their 24-year-old daughter Runa Barman. Iti, the youngest daughter of the couple, is admitted into the hospital.
About 4.40 am, the two accomplices of the main suspect, Vibhuti Bhushan Roy, entered the home and used sharp objects to attack the family members, according to the police, HT reported.
Roy was apprehended as he attempted to run after the neighbours heard noises coming from the hose. Before being turned over to police, he was attacked by the villagers.
The couple was pronounced dead at the sub-divisional hospital after the victims were transferred there from the block primary health centre. The MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar received a recommendation for their daughters, where Runa passed away.
A probe is being conducted. But, preliminary inquiry suggests a love affair gone awry. No political link has yet been uncovered. The cops claimed that every element is being looked at, HT reported.
(With Inputs From ANI, HT)