Lucknow, July 31 (IANS) A 28-year-old man Saturday attacked his elderly parents with a sharp-edged weapon and then set them ablaze over a property dispute, police said.

Naresh Kumar killed his father Ram Chandra, 70, and mother Brahma Devi, 67, in Simaria village, some 250 km from Lucknow. He is absconding, police said.

'Investigations reveal that Naresh killed his parents when they refused to give him any share in their property. A few days ago even, Naresh had heated arguments with his parents after they refused to support him financially in his business plans as he used to waste money on liquor and gambling,' police Inspector Satyaveer Singh told reporters in Badaun.

'It appears that Naresh first assaulted his parents with a sharp-edged weapon and later set them on fire. We believe the crime could not have been committed by a single person, so Naresh must have taken the help of some others,' he added.

According to Naresh's elder brother Umesh, on several occasions earlier Naresh had openly threatened his parents that he would kill them if they did not support him financially.

At the time of the incident, only Naresh and his parents were present in the house.