Jharkhand axe murders: Man kills father, wife in Lohardaga; toddler critical
Synopsis
A man allegedly killed his father and wife with an axe during a family dispute in Lohardaga, Jharkhand, then attacked his three-year-old daughter, leaving her critical. Two dead, a toddler fighting for her life, and an accused arrested at the scene — a stark reminder of how swiftly domestic disputes can turn fatal in remote communities.
Key Takeaways
Sandeep Oraon allegedly killed his father Surendra Oraon, 60 , and wife Sujata Oraon, 27 with an axe in Sengra Toli village, Lohardaga, Jharkhand on 25 May .
His three-year-old daughter Rianshi was also attacked and is in critical condition, referred to RIMS Ranchi .
The accused was arrested on the spot by Bhandra police station in-charge Manoj Kumar Gupta .
A blood-stained axe has been recovered; bodies sent for post-mortem examination.
Police investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the dispute.
A man allegedly hacked his father and wife to death with an axe and critically wounded his three-year-old daughter following a family dispute in Sengra Toli village, Lohardaga district, Jharkhand, on Monday, 25 May. The accused, Sandeep Oraon, was arrested at the scene by officers from the Bhandra police station.
What Happened
According to police and local residents, a dispute erupted at the family's home on Monday and escalated rapidly. Sandeep Oraon allegedly picked up an axe kept inside the house and attacked his father, Surendra Oraon, 60. When his wife, Sujata Oraon, 27, attempted to intervene, he allegedly turned on her and struck her repeatedly. The couple succumbed to their injuries before villagers, alerted by screams, could reach them.
In a further act of violence, the accused allegedly also attacked his toddler daughter, Rianshi, leaving her critically injured and lying in a pool of blood when first responders arrived.
Police Response and Child's Condition
Bhandra police station in-charge Manoj Kumar Gupta reached the spot with his team and took Sandeep Oraon into custody. Officers transported the injured child to the Community Health Centre in Bhandra in a police vehicle. Given the severity of her injuries, doctors administered first aid and referred her to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for advanced treatment.
A blood-stained axe, reportedly the weapon used in the attack, has been recovered by police. The bodies of Surendra Oraon and Sujata Oraon were sent to the district hospital for post-mortem examination after completion of legal formalities.
Investigation Under Way
Police have launched an investigation to establish the precise sequence of events and the nature of the dispute that allegedly triggered the attack. No further details about the motive have been officially confirmed as yet. The incident has sent shockwaves through Sengra Toli and surrounding areas, with residents expressing grief and alarm.
Context
Lohardaga, a predominantly tribal district in Jharkhand, has seen periodic incidents of intra-family violence linked to land and domestic disputes. Cases involving attacks on children are treated with heightened urgency by state authorities. The referral of the injured toddler to RIMS Ranchi — the state's premier public medical institution — underscores the critical nature of her condition.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to file a formal charge sheet once the post-mortem reports and forensic examination of the recovered axe are complete.
Point of View
A readily available weapon, and irreversible consequences before any intervention is possible. What makes this case particularly disturbing is that a three-year-old became a target — a detail that should force scrutiny of how early-warning mechanisms for domestic violence function, or fail to function, in remote tribal districts. Jharkhand's rural policing infrastructure is stretched, and Community Health Centres in areas like Bhandra lack the capacity to treat severe trauma, as the immediate referral to RIMS Ranchi illustrates. The systemic gap between a dispute escalating and any protective response reaching the family is the real story here.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Lohardaga, Jharkhand on 25 May?
A man named Sandeep Oraon allegedly killed his father Surendra Oraon and wife Sujata Oraon with an axe during a family dispute in Sengra Toli village, Lohardaga. He also allegedly attacked his three-year-old daughter Rianshi, leaving her critically injured.
Who are the victims in the Lohardaga axe attack?
The deceased are Surendra Oraon, 60, and Sujata Oraon, 27 — the father and wife of the accused, Sandeep Oraon. The critically injured child is Rianshi, the couple's three-year-old daughter.
What is the condition of the injured child?
Three-year-old Rianshi is in critical condition. She was first taken to the Community Health Centre in Bhandra and subsequently referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for advanced treatment due to the severity of her injuries.
Has the accused been arrested?
Yes. Sandeep Oraon was arrested at the scene by Bhandra police station in-charge Manoj Kumar Gupta and his team. A blood-stained axe, allegedly the weapon used, has also been recovered.
What is the status of the investigation?
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances and motive behind the attack. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and a formal charge sheet is expected once forensic and medical reports are complete.
