Two families in India were found dead by the police this week — with officials suspecting mass suicides over financial issues. Seven members of a family were found dead inside a locked car in the Panchkula district of Haryana on Monday. Hours later, a family of four was found hanging in their Kerala house. In both cases the victims are believed to have been facing acute monetary distress.
The first incident took place in Sector 27 of Panchkula district with all seven bodies found inside a parked car. The deceased were identified as 42-year-old Praveen Mittal, his parents, wife, two daughters, and a son. The Dehradun residents had reportedly travelled to Panchkula to attend a Hanuman Katha program organised by the Bageshwar Dham. Sources told PTI that the family had been returning home when they took the extreme step. The police recovered a suicide note from the car and preliminary investigation suggests that the family consumed poison in a suspected case of mass suicide — possibly driven by heavy debt and financial distress.
“We received information that six people have been brought to Ojas Hospital. When we reached here, we found out that they are all dead. Another person was brought to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6; he has also been declared dead. Prima facie, it looks like a matter of suicide. All the investigating officers are at the spot…All of the deceased are family members,” confirmed Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Himadri Kaushik.
The second such incident came to light on Tuesday evening after neighbours sounded the alarm. They had entered the house in Vakkom after realising that none of the family members had been seen outside for some time. According to the police, the couple and their two children were found hanging inside the house. The deceased have been identified as 55-year-old Anilkumar, his wife Sheeja, and their two sons, both in their twenties.
Police said that, prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide.
“It is suspected that Anilkumar was facing financial issues. An investigation is underway. No suicide note has been recovered from the house thus far,” a police official told PTI.
(With inputs from agencies)