Man, 4 brothers arrested for killing wife

Berhampur: A 58-year-old man and his four brothers were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating to death his 55-year-old wife over a petty issue at Fashinuagaon under Golanthara police station limits and destruction of evidence on Monday.The accused persons were identified as L.Rameya Reddy (58) and his brothers Kehab (56), Dilleswar (52), Damburu (44) and Devaraj (41). The deceased was identified as L.Gouri Reddy (55), Rameya’s wife. The couple has three children, police said on Thursday. The auto-rickhshaw used for transporting the body and the bamboo used to commit the crime were seized by police.Preliminary probe has revealed that on Monday night there was a dispute and quarrel between Rameya and his wife over a petty issue.Aggrieved, the accused struck the head of his wife with a bamboo. His wife sustained severe injuries, fell on the ground and died, said IIC, Golanthara police station, Bibekanand Swain.Worried, Rameya called his brothers who live in the same village and they planned to dispose the body at the cremation ground, he said. The accused carried the body to the cremation ground in an auto-rickhshaw. Damburu, one of the brothers of Rameya, drove the vehicle.

They cremated the body to destroy evidence, he said.Police said the deceased’s two sons are working outside the state and her daughter has been married off. Though the daughter-in-laws were in the house, they were unaware of the incident as they were staying in the first floor, police sources said.