KOZHIKODE: A man allegedly murdered his wife and then committed suicide. The incident happened at Atholi in Kozhikode. The dead have been identified as Krishnan (59) and Shobana (50). He bludgeoned his wife to death using a wooden log and then committed suicide by hanging in a tree in his family house.

The incident happened midnight. He beat her with the wood while she was sleeping. She died bleeding profusely. Krishnan fled the place soon after committing the crime and although the locals and the police tried to search him, they could not find him.

He was found hanging Thursday morning in a tree near his family house. There was no one else in the house. When the neighbours reached the house hearing the cries, he had fled the place.

Police and locals said family dispute led him to commit the murder. Forensic and finger print experts examined the bodies as per the direction of Vatakara rural SP. The bodies of the two have been sent for post-mortem.

The couple leaves behind their daughter Remya and Dhanya.