CHANDIGARH: A Dalit man and his parents were murdered late Friday night in Sonipat's Kharkhoda town, allegedly because he had married a higher caste Jat woman. The assailants shot and killed the three at their home in a sudden attack that left the other two members of the family critically injured.Pardeep Kumar, 28, his father Suresh Kumar , 50, and mother Sunita, 48, died on the spot after receiving bullet wounds. Pardeep's wife Sushila and younger brother Suraj are seriously injured. Sushila was nine months pregnant.Police officials told TOI that Pardeep had married Sushila, a Jat, against the wishes of her family in 2011 which could be the motive behind the triple murder. With her family unwilling to accept the marriage, Sishila had severed her ti es with her parents who belong to a village in Jhajjar.The couple had fallen in love while studying together at the Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak and had a three-year-old daughter. They were expecting their second child in about a week.The attack took place at around 11 pm when the family was preparing to go off to sleep. The assailants knocked on the door and fired at Pradeep as soon as he opened it. As Sushila came rushing out, the men fired at her as well. Pardeep's parents and brother came out to help the two and met the same fate. Before anybody could react, the assailants fled from the spot, leaving the victims in a pool of blood.While Pardeep and his mother died on the spot, Suresh was declared brought dead to Kharkhoda hospital. Suraj and Sushila are being treated at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research at Rohtak. Doctors said Sushila was battling for her life but her newborn had been saved after a surgery.Sonipat SP Ashwin Shenvi has constituted special teams to track down the assailants. “I could be an honor killing but we will confirm the facts and then arrest the accused,“ a senior officer investigating the case said.Bodies of Pardeep and his parent were sent for autopsy to ascertain the number of bullets they received. Ballistic experts have started collecting samples and empty shells from the spot.