Mentally deranged man commits suicide after attacking his mother with axe

GILGIT: A mentally deranged man attacked his mother and another woman with an axe before committing suicide by drowning in the Hunza River, local police said.

The attacker, a sepoy in the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, had been suffering from mental health issues for several months, Nasirabad Police Station House Officer Muhammad Nabi said.

According to Nabi, the tragedy unfolded when his mother rushed to the police station on Monday, complaining that her son assaulted her with an axe, leaving her with a severe cut near her neck. The police quickly mobilised a search to arrest the attacker, the police officer said.

As the police closed in on the location, another victim, a woman from the same locality, reported that she, too, had been attacked. She sustained injuries to her head after encountering the man in the street, who was reportedly brandishing an axe and another sharp instrument.

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“Both victims described their assailant in a state of extreme agitation,” Nabi told reporters. “Our immediate priority was to ensure their safety and provide medical care, which we did promptly. Fortunately, both women are now out of danger.”

The search for the attacker ended in tragedy when he fled towards the Hunza River, pursued by residents and police. Despite efforts to apprehend him, the man remained aggressive and unapproachable, ultimately entering the river. Efforts to rescue him were unsuccessful, and he drowned, the police officer said. The search for his body continued for two days but was hindered by the river’s vast expanse.

Nabi also disclosed that the man previously attempted suicide two days before the attacks in Aliabad. A video circulated on social media showed him entering the river while bystanders attempted to prevent his suicide.