Dhenkanal man kills wife in fit of rage, dies by suicide hours later
Synopsis
A daily wage labourer in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district allegedly beat his wife to death in a late-night argument fuelled by alcohol, then took their three daughters to a relative’s home and died by suicide. The children were found locked inside the brother’s house; a case has been registered on the sister’s complaint.
Key Takeaways
Ratnakar alias Mithun Naik, 35 , allegedly beat his wife Rasmita Naik, 30 , to death with a wooden stick at Akhuapal panchayat, Dhenkanal , on 20 September 2026 .
Ratnakar subsequently died by suicide by hanging himself from a tree near his home, reportedly out of remorse.
The couple had three daughters ; Ratnakar had locked them inside his brother’s house before his death.
Locals said Ratnakar had a history of quarrelling with his wife under the influence of alcohol .
A case ( 491/26 ) has been registered at Parjang police station ; postmortem is underway at Parjang Community Health Centre .
A 35-year-old man allegedly beat his wife to death with a wooden stick following a late-night argument and subsequently died by suicide in Dhenkanal district, Odisha, on Sunday, 20 September 2026. The incident took place at Akhuapal panchayat under the Dadara Ghati outpost of Parjang police station, leaving three young daughters without parents.
What Happened
The deceased husband has been identified as Ratnakar alias Mithun Naik, 35, a daily wage labourer, and his wife as Rasmita Naik, 30. According to police, the couple had a heated argument late on Saturday night over unspecified domestic issues. Ratnakar allegedly assaulted Rasmita with a heavy wooden stick during the altercation, resulting in her death.
“The couple engaged in a heated argument over some issues late Saturday night. In a fit of rage, the enraged husband assaulted the wife with a heavy wooden stick, resulting in her death. Following the death of his wife, a remorseful husband later committed suicide,” said Chittaranjan Behera, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Kamakhyanagar, Dhenkanal.
Daughters Left at Brother's Home
After Rasmita’s death, Ratnakar reportedly took the couple’s three daughters to the residence of his younger brother, whose family was away at the time. He locked the children inside the house from the outside, then died by suicide by hanging himself from a tree in front of his own home, reportedly out of remorse. Locals stated that Ratnakar had a history of quarrelling with his wife under the influence of alcohol.
Police Investigation Underway
Local police, along with a scientific team, reached the scene after being informed and launched a formal investigation. The bodies of both Ratnakar Naik and Rasmita Naik were sent to Parjang Community Health Centre for postmortem examination. A case bearing number 491/26 has been registered at Parjang police station on the basis of a complaint filed by the deceased man’s sister.
Background and Context
Domestic disputes aggravated by alcohol consumption have been a persistent concern across rural Odisha, with district authorities periodically flagging the link between substance abuse and household violence. This incident underscores the vulnerability of women in such situations and the absence of timely intervention mechanisms at the village level. The welfare of the couple’s three daughters, who were found locked inside a relative’s home, remains a matter of immediate concern for local authorities.
Further findings from the postmortem and the ongoing investigation are expected to shed more light on the exact sequence of events.
Point of View
But the three children locked in a dark room, waiting. Their situation exposes how little safety infrastructure exists at the village level for bystander intervention or early de-escalation. Accountability here must extend beyond registering a case: it must ask why repeated quarrels in this household never triggered any community or police response before a death occurred.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Dhenkanal domestic violence case on 20 September 2026?
A man identified as Ratnakar alias Mithun Naik, 35, allegedly beat his wife Rasmita Naik, 30, to death with a wooden stick following a heated argument late Saturday night at their home in Akhuapal panchayat, Dhenkanal district, Odisha. He subsequently died by suicide by hanging himself from a tree near their home.
What happened to the couple's three daughters?
After Rasmita’s death, Ratnakar took their three daughters to his younger brother’s house, whose family was away, locked the children inside, and then died by suicide. Authorities are addressing the welfare of the children following the incident.
What was the motive behind the attack?
According to police, the couple had a heated argument over unspecified domestic issues late on Saturday night. Locals reported that Ratnakar frequently quarrelled with his wife under the influence of alcohol, and he allegedly attacked her in a sudden fit of rage during the dispute.
Has a case been registered and is an investigation underway?
Yes, a case bearing number 491/26 has been registered at Parjang police station on the basis of a complaint filed by Ratnakar’s sister. Local police and a scientific team have reached the scene; both bodies have been sent to Parjang Community Health Centre for postmortem examination.
Where exactly did the incident take place?
The incident occurred at Akhuapal panchayat under the Dadara Ghati outpost of Parjang police station in Dhenkanal district, Odisha.
