Parents killing kids, selves on rise

 Tuesday’s incident is the latest in the increasing trend of debt-ridden parents killing their children and committing suicide. It came just a day after the World Suicide
Prevention Day observed on Monday.

The City has recorded more than 40 cases of suicides of members of the same family, reeling under debt, in the last two years. The victims belonged to all sections of the society, police said.

Shivaiah, father of Manjunath, told Deccan Herald: “My son had not taken much loan. The debt ran into a few thousand rupees. His wife Satyavati had taken around Rs 30,000 from a Stree Shakti Sangha. There was pressure on her to repay the loan. Hence, the couple took the extreme step.”

He said Manjunath had not discussed much about his debts with anyone. His friends and relatives would have helped him had he disclosed his financial status. A hasty decision cost four lives, Shivaiah added. Nagaraj, Manjunath’s neighbour, said his family rarely mingled with neighbours.

Local residents learnt about the incident only on Tuesday morning, he said. Satyavati’s mother Nagaratnamma said her grandchildren were brilliant and had special interest in science subjects. Prithviraj would teach English language to his seniors and dreamt of becoming a scientist. Something could have been done had the couple discussed their financial position. The biggest shock was their decision to end the children’s lives, she said.

Two commit suicide

Two persons allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves in separate incidents in the City. Ramu, 44, a cook and a resident of 15th cross, Chowdeshwarinagar, Laggere, was found hanging from the ceiling hook of his bedroom Tuesday morning. He was married to Mamata, a garment factory worker, with two children - Girish, 14, and Spoorthy, 12, both students of Best School, Laggere.

Ramu hailed from Mandya and came to the City many years ago. He had neglected domestic responsibilities and was an alcoholic. He returned home in an inebriated state on Monday night and went to bed after having dinner. All his family members were sleeping outside. When Mamata woke up on Tuesday and opened the room door, she saw her husband’s body hanging, police said.

In another incident, Gangamma, 28, a garments factory worker, hanged herself to death from a ceiling fan inside the kitchen of her house, near the government school at Laggere, on Tuesday afternoon. She was the second wife of Rajanna, 50, a plumber. She has a daughter Pallavi, 9, studying in Best School. Misunderstanding between the couple may have led to the incident, police said.