Jharkhand axe attack: Man kills pregnant sister-in-law, 8-year-old niece in Chaibasa
Synopsis
A man allegedly hacked his pregnant sister-in-law and her eight-year-old daughter to death with an axe in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, on 28 June — with a third person injured when he tried to intervene. The accused, Ramay Birua, was arrested after a forest search; police are probing both a family dispute and alleged alcohol use as triggers.
Key Takeaways
Ramay Birua allegedly attacked his sister-in-law Nanika Birua, 30 , and her daughter Sharmila Birua, 8 , with an axe in Chaibasa, Jharkhand on 28 June .
Nanika Birua was pregnant at the time of the attack; both victims died on the spot.
Villager Kande Birua , who tried to intervene, was also axe-attacked and has been hospitalised.
The accused fled into a nearby forest but was arrested following a police search operation; the axe was recovered.
Police are investigating a family dispute as the primary motive; locals allege the accused was intoxicated, a claim under probe.
A man allegedly killed his pregnant sister-in-law and her eight-year-old daughter with an axe in Maria Sai Tola, under the Manjhari police station area of Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, on Sunday, 28 June, police said. The accused, identified as Ramay Birua, has since been arrested, and the weapon recovered.
What Happened
The deceased have been identified as Nanika Birua, 30, who was pregnant, and her daughter Sharmila Birua, 8. According to police, Nanika's husband, Dakhel Singh Birua, had left for the fields when the accused entered the house and allegedly attacked Nanika with an axe following a dispute. When young Sharmila attempted to shield her mother, she too was attacked. Both victims died at the scene.
The Accused Fled — Then Was Caught
The couple's other daughter, Tulsi Birua, ran to the fields to alert her father. When Dakhel Singh Birua returned home, the accused reportedly attempted to attack him as well, but Dakhel managed to fend him off by picking up a stone, after which Ramay Birua fled into a nearby forest. A villager, Kande Birua, who attempted to intervene during the incident, was also struck with the axe and has been hospitalised for treatment.
Police Response and Arrest
A team from Manjhari police station reached the scene after receiving information from villagers and dispatched the bodies to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police launched a search operation in the forest and subsequently arrested Ramay Birua. The axe used in the attack was recovered on his instance.
Motive Under Investigation
Preliminary investigation suggests a family dispute triggered the violence, according to police. Locals have also claimed that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time — an assertion that police are currently probing. The double murder has sent shockwaves through the village and surrounding areas of West Singhbhum.
Point of View
Often compounded by alcohol — a pattern that recurs with troubling frequency across the state's tribal belt. The fact that a child was killed attempting to protect her mother, and that a bystander was also attacked, points to the acute vulnerability of women and children in isolated settlements where emergency response is slow. The alcohol angle, if confirmed, raises a broader policy question about access to liquor in tribal areas and whether existing regulations are being enforced. The speed of the arrest is notable, but the deeper question is whether community-level early-intervention mechanisms exist to prevent such disputes from turning fatal.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Chaibasa axe attack on 28 June?
The victims were Nanika Birua, 30 , who was pregnant, and her eight-year-old daughter Sharmila Birua . Both were killed at their home in Maria Sai Tola, Chaibasa, Jharkhand.
Who is the accused in the Chaibasa double murder case?
The accused is Ramay Birua , the brother-in-law of the primary victim, Nanika Birua. He was arrested by police after a search operation in a nearby forest following the attack.
What was the motive behind the Chaibasa axe attack?
Preliminary police investigation points to a family dispute as the trigger. Locals have also alleged that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time, a claim that police are currently probing.
Was anyone else harmed in the incident?
Yes. A villager, Kande Birua , who attempted to intervene was also attacked with the axe and sustained injuries. He has been admitted to hospital for treatment. The husband, Dakhel Singh Birua, managed to fend off an attack by picking up a stone.
What action has the police taken so far?
Police from Manjhari police station reached the scene, sent the bodies to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for post-mortem, conducted a forest search operation, arrested Ramay Birua , and recovered the axe used in the crime.
