After killing minor children, man ends life and wife rescued

Caught in a debt trap over the medical treatment of a man who became bedridden after a road accident four years ago, a couple killed their two minor children and decided to end their lives. While the man died, his wife was rescued by their relatives. The incident happened in Gonakanahalli village, Hosakote, on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as Shivakumar, 32, his daughter Chandrakala, 11, and son Uday Surya, 7.

The police detained Shivakumar’s wife Manjula, 30, on the charge of murder for further investigation.

According to the police, Shivakumar, a daily wage employee, met with a hit-and-run road accident four years ago and was forced to stop working after both his legs were badly injured. The couple borrowed a huge loan for Shivakumar’s medical treatment.

Though Manjula worked as a domestic help, it was not enough for the family and the couple was under pressure to repay the loan. Unable to bear this, the couple decided to end their lives after killing their children, said the police.

As per the plan, the couple strangled the children while they were sleeping and submerged their heads in a bucket filled with water to ensure their deaths, said the police.

Shivakumar asked Manjula to get some snacks to eat as a last meal and inform her relatives about their plan, so that they would be able to perform the last rites after their deaths. When Manjula went out to the shop, Shivakumar ended his life. Manjula went to the house of her relatives and informed them about the plan, said the police.

While returning home, the relatives became suspicious and followed her. They alerted the police before she could take the extreme step in her house. 

The Hosakote police shifted the bodies for autopsy and detained Manjula on the charge of murdering her children.

(If you are in distress or having suicidal tendencies, please reach out to these 24/7 helplines: KIRAN 1800-599-0019 or Arogya Sahayavani at 104 for help)