King cobra turns out to be murder weapon after Indian man held for killing wife, daughter

In a shocking incident in Odisha’s Ganjam district, a 25-year-old man named K Ganesh Patra allegedly orchestrated the killing of his 23-year-old wife, K Basanti Patra, and their two-year-old daughter, Debasmita, using a venomous cobra while they slept. 

The tragic event unfolded amid a marital dispute between Ganesh and Basanti, who had been married since 2020. Ganesh, claiming to use the snake for religious purposes, reportedly obtained the cobra from a snake charmer.

According to reports by NDTV, Ganesh released the snake in the bedroom where his wife and daughter were sleeping on October 6, following a heated argument. Despite initially denying his involvement, Ganesh informed neighbours the next morning that both his wife and daughter had succumbed to snake bites. The incident prompted suspicions, leading to an investigation by the Ganjam police.

Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena stated that Ganesh was accused of murder by his father-in-law, resulting in his arrest a month after the tragic event due to delays in evidence gathering. 

As questions arose regarding the unusual circumstances of the deaths, local snake charmers were interrogated by the police. During questioning, Ganesh, despite initial denials, eventually confessed to his crimes.

Meena commented on the delay in the arrest, stating, “The accused was arrested a month after the incident due to a delay in gathering evidence against him.” He further mentioned, “Meanwhile, we also received the post-mortem report clearly indicating that the death of the mother-daughter duo had occurred during late October 6 night.” The timeline raised suspicions about the snake remaining in the room hours after the fatal bites.

The chilling revelation of using a venomous snake to commit the crime has left the community in shock, and Ganesh now faces legal consequences for his alleged actions. The investigation sheds light on the tragic consequences of domestic disputes, highlighting the need for timely intervention in such situations.