A traffic home guard stabbed his estranged wife to death on a busy thoroughfare in East Midnapore’s Contai on Friday afternoon.

The incident took place in front of the Contai Girls’ High School, where the couple’s daughter studies, and near the office of the Contai SDPO.

Victim Barnali Roy, 37, a homemaker, was rushed to Contai Hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Accused Bappaditya Roy, 42, from Marisda police station, was nabbed by personnel from the SDPO’s office when he tried to flee.

SDPO Somnath Saha was reportedly in office then.

Saha arrested the accused and handed him over to Contai police.

Sources said the incident was the fallout of a longstanding discord between the couple married for 17 years.

“They were living in separate houses. Residents had seen them fight in public before. The wife had lodged complaints in her husband’s name,” said a police officer.

Eyewitnesses at the school said they sympathised with the daughter, who is set to appear for Madhyamik in 2023.

“We had seen Bappaditya get enraged on earlier occasions merely on seeing Barnali talk to other parents outside the school,” said a source, adding that a similar incident transpired on Friday which possibly triggered the husband.

“Barnali tried to move closer to the SDPO’s office but couldn’t save her life,” the source added.

Bappaditya reportedly stabbed his wife repeatedly in full public view, eyewitnesses adding that Barnali died on the spot “writhing in agony”.

The accused was arrested and discharged from service. Contai SDPO Somnath Saha said that it appeared to be “a planned murder.”