In a case of suspected murder-suicide, a Malayali nurse couple were found dead in their flat in Kuwait on Thursday, May 1. The bodies of Suraj Kuzhiyath John (39) and Bincy (35) were found with stab wounds on Thursday morning, by the security personnel of the flat.
Suraj allegedly called his friends on Thursday morning and said that Bincy had died in his hands, and that he too would follow her. Soon after, he removed his WhatsApp profile picture. While Bincy had stab wounds on her chest, Suraj was found with a stab wound on his neck.
The Kuwaiti police have launched a probe into the deaths. The police investigation is also looking into the potential reasons behind the murder.
The couple had returned to Kuwait after visiting their families in Kerala only two days before the incident. They are survived by their children Evelyn (9) and Edwin (6), who were left behind in Kerala. The family had made plans to shift from Kuwait to Australia and were in the process of moving.
“They were planning to shift to Australia, and as the process was ongoing, they did not take the children back to Kuwait with them. It is said that they must have had an argument after returning from the night shift at work. Suraj might have stabbed Bincy in a fit of rage. He is said to have sounded grief stricken when he called his friends after she died,” said Baby Odampallil, Suraj’s relative and the panchayat ward member of Naduvil, from where Suraj hailed.
Suraj was a native of Kannur while Bincy hailed from Perumbavoor. The husband and wife were employed as staff nurses in the Kuwaiti ministries of health and disaster management respectively. The couple’s flat in Kuwait is located in Abbasiya, a residential area with a large Malayali community.
Their bodies are expected to be brought to Kerala on Monday, May 5, after post mortem procedures are completed.
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.