Bengaluru: A software engineer who lost his job five years ago, smothered his wife and two-year-old daughter to death before hanging himself at his home in Yelahanka New Town, northeast Bengaluru,  between Sunday night and Monday morning.

According to the sources, Amith Jha (35) had killed his wife Meenakshi Jha (30) and their daughter Manya, and then hanged himself to a ceiling fan.

On basis of initial investigation, police said that the reason behind the murders and suicide was marital dispute between Amith and his wife. Amith was a habitual drinker and due to this the couple had stated quarreling.

According to the initial report, it may be stated that Amith first fed poison to his wife and daughter, strangled them and then committed suicide by hanging himself to a ceiling fan.

"The Patna family who were B-Tech graduates, had come to Bengaluru in 2005. Amit lost his job in 2009 over a personal issue. Since then, he had taken to drink and the couple would fight often," a police officer said.

While Amith’s body was found in the bedroom hanging from a ceiling fan, While Manya's body was in the bedroom and Meenakshi's near the kitchen.

 “We have got confirmation about Amith strangulating the duo, we have also collected the samples of the materials and food available and have sent it to forensic science laboratory to find out whether he fed them poison before strangulating them to death.” said deputy commissioner of police (north-east) PS Harsha.