Saddled with debts, couple end lives

A couple, facing massive debts, took their lives in a suicide pact.

The deceased have been identified as Ramesh, 36, and Pushpa, 26, both residents of Basavalingappa Layout, Sampigehalli. The couple hailed from Tagalli village
in Mandya and had two daughters, Mamata, 5, and Mahadevi, 3.

According to police, the family previously resided at Kamala Nagar in Basaveshwara Nagar, where Ramesh had started a business. The family soon accumulated huge debts. Harassed by creditors, they moved to a rented house in Basavalingappa Layout several months ago. Ramesh took up work as an auto driver. But the creditors traced him and demanded that he repay all the loans.

The constant harassment may have led the couple to commit suicide, police said.
“They tried to send their daughters to the house of Pushpa’s parents in Mandya,” police said.

“Mamata left, but the younger daughter, Mahadevi, refused to go and stayed with the couple.”

The suicide was discovered Saturday morning when the house owner heard Mahadevi crying. When no one answered his knocks on the door, he called up Ramesh, but failed to get him on the line.

He peeped through the window and found the couple hanging from the ceiling. He alerted police, who rushed to the spot and broke open the door.

Police retrieved the bodies and shifted them to Dr B R Ambedkar Medical College for autopsy. The bodies were later handed over to grieving members of the family who arrived from Mandya.

Sampigehalli police have registered a case and are investigating.