A former Maoist squad member, who had surrendered before the state government a decade ago and got a job in the police force under a government scheme, allegedly murdered his six-year-old son and committed suicide at police lines in Purulia town on Monday.

Police said the bodies of Hemanta Hembram, 38, and his son Shomjit were found in a pool of blood inside their quarters at police lines around 5.30am.

“While questioning Hemanta’s wife, we came to know he first killed his son by slitting his throat and later killed himself in the same way. As of now we have come to know that the incident was triggered by a quarrel between the couple,” said Pinaki Dutta, the additional superintendent of police (headquarters) in Purulia.

Hemanta and his wife Champa were active Maoist squad members at the Ayodhya Hills in Purulia till they surrendered in 2012.

Hemanta is a resident of Tanashi village in Arsha police station limit at Ayodhya Hills, while his wife hails from nearby Balarampur.

Sources said their decision to surrender came in the wake of an appeal by chief minister Mamata Banerjee who announced jobs and other rehabilitation packages after she came to power in Bengal in 2011 for rebels who wished to surrender.

Hemanta and his wife Champa got jobs as special home guards and were posted at Belguma police lines in Purulia town in 2012.

“Hemanta was notorious for his behaviour and his addictions used to trigger regular quarrels with my sister,” alleged Hajaro Hembram, Hemanta’s brother-in-law.

At the time of the incident, Hemanta’s wife Champa was present but could not rescue the child as she was badly beaten up, Hajaro alleged.

Hajaro claimed that Hemanta had slit the throat of his son with a knife used for cutting vegetables.

“He woke up his son from sleep and slit the child’s throat. He then rushed to the kitchen and slit his own throat. Everything happened instantly and my sister could not raise an alarm,” he said.

Neighbours came rushing to the quarters after Hemanta’s wife started shouting for help. “We rushed Hemanta and his son to hospital but were declared dead on arrival,” said a neighbour.

Police said while interrogating Hemanta’s colleagues it was revealed that the former Maoist was an alcoholic and would often beat up his wife and son. He also used to bunk duty frequently.

“His colleagues and neighbours at the police lines told us that they used to frequently hear exchanges between the couple, mostly at night. He was a trouble-monger and his reputation was not good in the area,” said an investigating officer.

Sources said Hemanta had tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide a month ago and had also been hospitalised then.