At least six members of a family, including four children, died in Karnataka’s Ponnampet
on Saturday after a drunk family member locked them inside and set the house on fire. Four others in the
house suffered severe burns, PTI reported citing police officials.

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According to police, the
four who succumbed injuries are being treated at Madikeri and Mysuru Hospitals. The 50-year-old accused, who is allegedly responsible for the accident is absconding. A case has been registered and Mysuru
IGP Praveen Madhukar Pawar and Kodagu SP Kshama Mishra had visited the spot.

Police
have registered a case and are on the lookout for Bhoja.

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The accused, Yeravara Boja, is an estate labourer and has a pattern of fighting with his wife Babi. His wife had left home a week ago and was staying at her brother’s place in the same villiage.

The house he set on fire was his brother-in-law’s that he climbed through the roof at around 2 am and poured petrol all over it after and set it ablaze after locking the doors.

Accused’s wife Babi, aunt, and a relative’s daughter were declared dead while four other including Manju’s sons survived the fire and are undergoing treatment.