Mother kills two children with axe in Madhya Pradesh; motive under investigation

BHOPAL: Two children aged 3 and 5 years were axed to death by their mother in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday morning.Radhika, the mother, allegedly used an axe to kill her son and daughter in their home in Deori Ward, about 140 km from the district headquarters. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m.Police arrested Radhika shortly after the crime. During interrogation, she has given conflicting reasons for the murders.Initially, she claimed she killed the children because she wanted to separate from her husband. Later, she stated she had intended to commit suicide but changed her mind after the killings.According to police, a burnt mattress was found near the daughter’s body. The children’s father, who works at a dhaba, discovered the crime upon returning home and alerted the police.Neighbours reported that the children had been seen with their grandfather earlier in the day and that Radhika was seen leaving the house with a bag around noon. Smoke was later noticed coming from the family’s hut. When neighbours arrived, they found the children dead and a half-burnt photo among the debris.Additionally, there are suggestions that Radhika may have been involved with a young man who had visited the home while the children were present. It is speculated that the murders might have been an attempt to conceal this relationship from her husband. Investigations are on.