Fatal violence in Avtar Nagar leaves family shattered
Jalandhar police have launched a manhunt after a double homicide in the Avtar Nagar locality where two family members were found dead inside their home on Wednesday. The accused, identified as 45-year-old Heera Lal, reportedly fled the scene after the incident, police said.
Neighbours and residents on Street No. 7 described an atmosphere of shock and fear following the discovery. The victims have been named as Savita, the accused's wife, and Ayodhya Prakash, his father. The killings came to light when the couple's four children, who are between 8 and 15 years of age, returned from school and found the bodies lying in a pool of blood and the house in a state of disarray.
Police response and investigation
Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Rakesh Yadav and ACP Atish Bhatia reached the site with their teams after receiving information about the incident. Initial examinations indicated that both victims sustained multiple blunt-force injuries to the head, neck, limbs and other parts of the body.
"Prima facie there appeared to have been a scuffle before the murders," said ADCP Rakesh Yadav, according to police sources.
Officers said the family are migrants who have been residing in Jalandhar for over two decades. The accused's mother was reportedly on the first floor at the time and had limited awareness of events on the ground floor due to mobility impairment, police added.
Alleged motive and community impact
Preliminary reports and neighbourhood accounts indicate that the accused had a history of substance dependence. There are assertions that an argument ensued after his wife apparently prevented the victim's father from giving money to him, which is said to have triggered the fatal attack.
Local residents expressed distress over the incident, particularly because the children's discovery of the bodies has left them traumatised. Elected representatives and community leaders in the vicinity called for swift police action and counselling support for the minors.
- Location: Street No. 7, Avtar Nagar, Jalandhar
- Accused: Heera Lal (aged 45, absconding)
- Deceased: Savita (wife) and Ayodhya Prakash (father)
- Children: Four minors, aged between 8 and 15
Case details and next steps
Police said they found signs of a violent struggle at the scene. Forensic teams are expected to process the house for further evidence. The district police have appealed to anyone with information about the accused's whereabouts to come forward and warned that strict action will follow once he is traced.
| Name | Relation | Known details |
|---|---|---|
| Heera Lal | Accused | 45 years old; absconding |
| Savita | Wife (deceased) | Found dead in house |
| Ayodhya Prakash | Father (deceased) | Found dead in house |
| Four children | Children of the couple | Aged between 8 and 15; discovered the bodies |
Authorities have not yet disclosed any formal charge sheet; investigations are ongoing. The incident underscores concerns about domestic violence and the social consequences of substance abuse, issues that local administrators said require community-level attention alongside law enforcement measures.
As the probe continues, police have increased patrolling in the area and are coordinating with neighbouring jurisdictions in the hunt for the accused. No arrests have been reported so far.
Further updates are expected as forensic findings and witness statements are recorded and the exact sequence of events leading to the deaths is reconstructed by investigators.
