A 36-year old software employee working with IBM allegedly killed himself in Hyderabad after allegedly murdering his wife and two sons, including a toddler, by poisoning them. The police suspect that he took the extreme step over mounting debts.
The man, who had taken loans to the tune of several lakhs of rupees, had given food laced with poison to his 28-year-old wife and two sons -- one aged six and another just 18-months old -- on Saturday, and later committed suicide by consuming it himself, police added.
As there was no response to their phone calls since Saturday, the man's brother-in-law went to their house in Hasthinapuram in the city on Monday and found the door closed. He grew suspicious after not getting any response and informed the police.
With the help of police personnel and neighbours, the door was broken open and the decomposed bodies of the man and his elder son were found in one room while the bodies of his wife and the younger son were found on the bed in another room, police said.
A note purportedly written by the man and addressed to his father was found in the room.
In the letter, he expressed regret that he was not able to take care of his father and he had taken some "hasty decisions" in order to clear his home loan.
"I don't want anyone to come and question me on loans. I have not slept for many days...I am scared. I don't want my wife and children to be a burden on you and hence I am taking them also with me," the man wrote in the letter.
Based on a complaint from the relatives, police registered a case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 174 (police to inquire and report on suicide etc.) of the Criminal Procedural Code (CrPC).
The police shifted the bodies to government-run Osmania Hospital for an autopsy and said that further investigation is underway.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers:
Telangana
Telangana government suicide prevention toll free no - 104
Roshni- 040-66202000, 6620200SEVA- 09441778290, 040 - 27504682 (between 9 AM and 7 PM)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention Helpline No.78930-78930
Roshni Helpline 1: 9166202000 Helpline 2: 9127848584
Tamil Nadu
State health department suicide helpline number - 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in TN
Karnataka
Sahai: 24-hour helpline numbers: 080- 65000111, 080-65000222
Kerala
Maithri helpline - 0484-2540530
Chaithram helpline: 0484-2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.