A man and his wife were arrested today for allegedly killing four of a family by setting their house in Doda on fire last month.
"The couple were arrested and during questioning they confessed to the crime", SSP, Doda, Zahid Naseem Manhas said.
Four members of a family, including a seven-month-old child, died in a fire which broke out at their house in Dalyuon Gadan area on the intervening night of February 29 and March 1.
Initially, it was assumed that the fire was caused due to an unextinguished fireplace, but later the involvement of some locals in setting the house on fire started doing the rounds.
"On the basis of confession made by an accused, Mangta Butt, we were able to connect the events which led the death of the four people. We then lodged an FIR and arrested the couple," said the SSP.
Preliminary investigation showed that there was an old enmity between Mangta and the victims' family which led to the murders, police said.
"This is a cold-blooded murder and was carried out in a well-planned manner as the couple set the house on fire from all sides by using pine needles (leaves) and even pushed these leaves through windows which causes acute suffocation and blindness thereby giving victims no time to react," SSP added.
