Family in debt carries out suicide pact

A financial crisis and debt prompted four members of a middle class family in suburban Mumbai to kill themselves on Friday. When the bodies of A K Nair (65), wife Shyamala (60), son Sudhir (46) and daughter Suchitra (47) were discovered on Sunday afternoon, policemen also found a suicide note that said they were “frustrated”.

While investigators said a financial crisis was a key possibility, there was also speculation that the drastic move may have been prompted by the current slump in the markets.

Officials of the Kasturba Marg police said that the family of four appear to have taken the step on October 10, which was Dussehra. The bodies were discovered on Sunday after residents complained of a foul smell from the flat that had been rented to the Nairs and the owner of the flat was then called in to open the door with a spare key.

The family of four had been residing in the seventh floor flat of Ekta Woods building at Raheja Estate, Borivali (East) from February this year. “The bodies of the daughter and son were found hanging in the main hall, while the parents, it seems, had consumed posion. Their bodies were found in sleeping position in the bedroom,” said zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajit Patil.

Police said the suicide note had been signed by the daughter and the son, both unmarried. It mentioned that the family has no relatives. “We have no future. We have nobody to claim our bodies. We request the authorities to dispose them of as they see fit,” the suicide note read.

According to the police, Suchitra had been planning to start an enterprise in her hometown. “She was holding a high post with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and had taken Voluntary Retirement from Service. She was looking at the possibility of starting a business in Trivandrum,” said Senior Police Inspector P R Suryavanshi.

Patil said that investigations would continue on the cause for the suicide. Asked if there was indication of a serious financial crisis in the family, he said: “We cannot confirm it at present but are looking at the possibility.”

... contd.