PARAVUR: In a shocking incident, a man hanged himself after murdering his wife. The deceased have been identified as North Paravur Kandakarnanveli native Vidhyadharan (63) and wife Vanaja (58).

Only Vidyadharan and Vanaja lived in the house in Kandakarnanveli. On Saturday morning, their younger daughter Vidya, who lives about half a kilometre away, called the Vanaja on the phone. However, as no one picked up her call, Vidya called the neighbours and asked them to check whether her parents were not at home. Upon arriving at Vidhyadharan's house, the neighbours found Vanaja lying dead in a pool of blood and Vidyadharan hanging from a fan in another room. Vanaja's neck had a deep cut on it. According to sources, Vanaja had demanded that her property should be given to her sisters. The police said that Vidhyadharan and Vanaja used to frequently quarrel over the matter.

Vidhyadharan, a native of Vadekkakkara, bought the house in Kandakarnanveli two and a half years ago. He had worked as a private bus conductor and collection agent. Vanaja is a retired employee of Gandhi Mandiram in Nanthiattukunnam. A police team led by Aluva DySP TR Rajesh and Vadakkekkara Inspector KR Biju and forensic experts inspected the house.

The bodies were shifted to Kochi Medical College for post-mortem. The funeral will take place on Sunday. Children: Deepa and Vidya.