The Hindu : National : Police officer kills wife, tries to end life

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Police officer kills wife, tries to end life

Special Correspondent

‘Action after taking his physical condition into account’

JAIPUR: A young police officer shot dead his wife and tried to kill himself with his service revolver at his official quarters in Udaipur on Sunday evening. Marital discord appeared to be the reason behind the act in which Jitendra Saandu, of the Rajasthan Police Service (RPS), had also tried to shoot at his father-in-law and his four-year-old daughter. The child escaped unhurt while the father-in-law was injured.

Saandu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police posted as vigilance officer with the Rajasthan Mines and Minerals Limited, Udaipur, then called up N.R.K. Reddy, the Inspector General of Police, Udaipur Division, to inform him about the act. “I killed my wife. I killed myself,” he said.

“He has worked under me in the past. I told him if he was dead, he would not be talking. He then told me he was dying. I kept talking to him on phone until I reached his residence. He could not get up to open the door as a bullet had hit his spinal cord and partially immobilised him,” Mr. Reddy said on phone.

Saandu (38) had reportedly doubted the character of his wife Gitika (32). According to their neighbours, he used to lock her up in the room when he went out. He cleared the Civil Service examination this year but it seems he was reluctant to move out of Rajasthan. “He suffers from low self esteem,” said Mr. Reddy.

Saandu’s father-in-law, Dungar Dhan Charan, who is a Rajasthan Administrative Services officer, had come to their residence to take his daughter home for ‘rakhi’.

“Saandu shot his wife four times from a close range. Then he fired more shots before reloading his weapon. It seems he wanted to kill his child as well. Around 8.30 p.m., he rang me up,” Mr. Reddy said.

“My father killed my mother; she was screaming but he continued to fire at her,” the child told Mr. Reddy as he entered the house. Saandu was immediately taken to the hospital. His situation is said to be out of danger though he is not in a position to be moved.

“He has come out of the operation theatre. After taking his physical condition into account, we will decide on the action against him,” Mr. Reddy said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News Update

Stories in this Section