Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), Feb 25 (IANS): A superintendent of police posted here in the headquarters of Bastar region Tuesday shot his wife dead, injured his minor son and daughter, and then killed himself at his official residence, officials said.

Devnarayan Patel fired at his children and wife just a day after he was suspended on charges of physically assaulting an additional district judge who was reportedly in an inebriated condition.

The 40-year-old Patel shot his wife Pratima, 11-year-old daughter Poonam and six-year-old son Aryan with his service revolver around 2 a.m. here at Saket Colony area.

Police sealed off the residence, and the government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

The repeated gun shots woke up neighbours who rushed to Patel's house and found the police officer lying in a pool of blood as were his wife and children.

A police team confirmed that Patel fired at his family members intentionally and in the end killed himself.

Police said Patel and his wife died on the spot while their son and daughter were taken to a hospital in Jagdalpur and then referred to a major hospital in Raipur as their condition was said to be critical.

State Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra and several police officers visited the hospital where the two children were admitted to the intensive care unit.

Doctors said both children were battling for life despite successful surgeries.

Patel hailed from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh.