ISLAMABAD: A Hindu priest committed suicide after killing his three minor daughters, all under 6-year-old, to please Hindu goddess Kali Mata in Bhemomal area of Sind province on Tuesday.

According to police and eyewitnesses, religious rituals were regularly performed at the Kali Mata Temple established on the first floor of a house owned by Tekam Das Meghwar in Bhemomal. Reports say that Tekam Das Meghwar first slaughtered his three daughters, Parwati, 6-year-old, Reena, 4, and Aarti, 1, with a sharp knife and then slit his own throat to make Kali Mata happy.

Moulchand, brother of deceased Tekam Das Meghwar said, “My deceased brother was Hindu priest of Kali Mata and he performed pooja the whole night but in the early morning when power supply failed he slaughtered his three daughters before committing suicide with a sharp weapon.”

SHO Taluka police Rasool Bux Thaheem told media that after post mortem the bodies of the three sisters and their father were handed over to their heirs.

Initial police investigation suggested that Tekam Das Meghwar, early on Tuesday morning, entered the residential portion of the house, asking his wife, Pavi, to bring milk from a nearby shop. Investigators believe that taking advantage of solitary Tekam Das slit throats of his three daughters.

The ill-fated mother told police that "when I returned home, I saw heads of three girls in a cradle placed in room. Body of Tekam Das also lay in a pool of blood with his throat slit." She started screaming on which neighbours rushed to the house.

Another Hindu priest Bhagat Ashok told media that act of Tekam Das was foolish and it was illegal to offer sacrifice of even animals in Hindu religion. The incident spread panic in the town of Mirwah Gorchani as hundreds of people gathered at the spot.