An old couple were set on fire by their son and daughter following a family feud in Assam’s Jorhat district on Friday. The siblings later tried to commit suicide.

According to police sources, Deben Dutta, 60, was an elderly person who lived with his wife Nikumoni Dutta, 51, daughter Sumi Dutta, 26 and son Pulok Dutta,32, in Dulaigaon village of Malow under Pulibor Police station of Jorhat district.  The family stayed somewhat isolated from the rest of the villager owing to severe family feud.

On Wednesday, Deben had gotten  Sumi and  Pulok admitted at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital due to their drug addiction. However, the brother-sister duo escaped from the hospital on Thursday. 

According to sources, the siblings had a huge fight with their parents, local villagers have later said that they even tortured their aged father and mother. On Thursday, when the parents were in their room, the children apparently locked them and set them on fire. The siblings tried to commit suicide later by hurting themselves with sharp weapon, police sources added.

Later, the villagers shifted all the four people to the Jorhat Medical College hospital. The condition of the couple is said to be extremely critical till this report was filed. They have suffered over 80 per cent burn injuries, and are battling for their life.