Betul triple murder accused shifted to Gwalior mental health centre:Sedated escorted by 11 policemen amid violent behaviour

Deepak Dhurve, the accused in the triple murder of his parents and brother in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district, has been shifted to the mental health centre at Gwalior Central Jail for treatment and evaluation. An 11-member police team escorted him on Saturday. He will be kept in a special cell equipped for treatment and monitoring of mentally ill prisoners. Police said Dhurve showed extremely aggressive behaviour and was administered sedatives before being transported. He was taken to Gwalior in an unconscious state after medical clearance and completion of legal formalities. Earlier, a court had issued a jail warrant for Dhurve. However, Betul jail authorities informed the court that they did not have adequate facilities to keep and treat mentally ill prisoners. Following this, arrangements were made to shift him to the Gwalior mental health facility. Three family members killed inside locked house The incident took place on February 19 in Sawanga village of Betul district. Police said Dhurve allegedly killed his father Raju alias Hansu Dhurve (45), mother Kamalti (40), and younger brother Dilip (23). After the killings, he reportedly locked the house from inside and remained seated near the bodies. When neighbours noticed the house remained closed for several hours and received no response, they informed the police. A police and forensic team broke open the door and found the three bodies inside the room. Blood was found on the floor and walls. A stick and iron rod, suspected to have been used in the attack, were recovered from the spot. Police said the father and son were found embracing each other, while the mother’s body was lying nearby. Utensils were scattered in the house, indicating the incident occurred before dinner. Dhurve’s five-year-old nephew, who was present in the house, was found hiding in a corner. He had also been injured and was admitted to hospital. Police say accused admitted crime but gave no motive Police officials said Dhurve admitted to the killings during questioning but did not explain the reason. Betul Kotwali police station in-charge Devkaran Dahria said the accused remained violent even in custody and allegedly attacked police personnel at the station. He was later examined at the district hospital, where doctors advised psychiatric care. According to police, the nephew told investigators that Dhurve was beating his younger brother when their father intervened and was also attacked. When their mother tried to intervene, she too was assaulted. Family members reported mental health problems Family members and villagers said Dhurve had been suffering from mental health problems for about two years. His brother-in-law, Sukhchand Dhurve, said he sometimes claimed that a demon had entered him and referred to himself as a demon. He had undergone treatment at a temple and later consulted a doctor in Nagpur. Villagers said Dhurve was known as a quiet and academically good student and had no known disputes with anyone. Psychiatrist Dr Sanjay Khatarkar said such patients may experience delusions, fear, and disconnection from reality, and can sometimes become violent. He said proper psychiatric treatment and monitoring are essential in such cases. Officials inspect village, stress mental health awareness Senior officials, including Narmadapuram Range Inspector General of Police Mithilesh Kumar Shukla, Collector Narendra Suryavanshi, and Superintendent of Police Virendra Jain, visited Sawanga village and inspected the scene. Officials said the accused will remain under medical supervision at the Gwalior mental health centre, where doctors will assess his mental condition and begin treatment. They also stressed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions to prevent such incidents.