A 40-year-old carpenter and his wife allegedly killed their three children and ended their lives in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram allegedly due to financial crisis. It is suspected that the family took the extreme step after the man couldn’t repay a loan he had taken from a private chit fund company.
According to reports, Mohanraj (40) and Vimaleswari (37) lived in Pudhupalayam village near Valavanur in Villupuram district with their three children aged ten, eight and five. Mohanraj was a carpenter who had his own workshop near his house which he opens every day by 9 am.
On Monday, the shop remained closed even after a long time in the morning when the workshop staff came looking for him in his house. When they saw that the house was not open and the door and windows bolted from inside, they informed the neighbours and Vimaleswari’s father who lives a few streets away. Together, they broke open the door to find the entire family dead.
Mohanraj had reportedly taken a loan of Rs 4 lakh from a private chit fund company a few months ago. However, he was not able to repay it as his business suffered due to the pandemic. It is suspected that the crisis situation might have forced the couple to take the drastic step. Preliminary inquiry also suggested that Mohanraj might have taken loans from several parties and was unable to settle them.
The Villupuram police recovered the bodies and sent them for autopsy to the Government Medical College hospital in Mundiyambakkam. Police have also registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC and are conducting further investigation into the possible cause of the deaths.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.
Tamil Nadu
State health department's suicide helpline: 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930
Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584
Karnataka
Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222
Kerala
Maithri: 0484 2540530
Chaithram: 0484 2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Telangana
State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104
Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200
SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm)
Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.
24x7 Helpline: 9820466726
Click here for working helplines across India.