CHAKWAL: A man killed his seven year old son and nine year old daughter with a hammer in the Munday village, in the limits of the Neelah police, police sources said on Tuesday.

The victims, Mohammad Ibrahim and Saira Ghazal, had been asleep at home when their father attacked them, injuring them critically.

The children’s mother told police that she left the house early to visit her parents, but then turned back midway because she felt it was too early in the day to visit them.

When she got home, she saw her husband fleeing from the house.

She said she could not find her children in their beds and found one of the rooms to be locked.

She told police she broke into the room from the window and saw her children injured inside.

Both children were taken to a local hospital.

Mohammad Ibrahim died on the way while Saira Ghazalwas referred to Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, where she too died.

The police have arrested the suspect, who ran a small flour mill in the premises of his home.

Investigating officer Khawar Saeed told Dawn the suspect had been engaging in spiritual practices in solitude for the last five years because of which he suffered from fits.

The suspect also told the police he attacked his children during a fit. The suspect’s wife told police he occasionally spoke to her.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2018