Family of three end life in suicide pact after son’s death

New Delhi, Sep 9 (PTI) An entire family including anex-serviceman, his wife and daughter ended their lives insouth west Delhi in an apparent suicide pact under depressionover loss of a young son who was pursuing MBBS in Russia. The medical student had ended his life last month. Police said Bhagwan Das (50), his wife Sharda (48) andtheir daughter Sunita (20) consumed poison at their house atKhera Dabar in Jafarpur Kalan area this morning. "While Das and Sunita were declared brought dead by thedoctors at Rao Tula Ram hospital, Sharda died while undergoingtreatment at around 1.30 pm," said Dependra Pathak, JointCommissioner of Police (south west). The incident was reported around 7.15 am and the threewas rushed to Rao Tula Ram hospital by the neighbours whofound them lying unconscious. Police said the family had committed suicide by consuminginsecticide ‘salphas’ used for storing food grains. Pathak said Das’ son, Kuldeep, who was first-year MBBSstudent in Russia had committed suicide on August 19 while hehad come to India on a vacation. The 23-year-old’s body was found in bathroom with frothcoming out of his mouth and his viscera has been sent forforensic test and the report is still awaited, he said. Police have recovered a seven-page suicide note by Das. In the suicide note, Das has accused two men – Alok Sinhaand Nasim – of cheating him of Rs 35 lakh promising admissionof his son in a private medical college in India which did notmaterialise. He also claimed his son Kuldeep was "worried" as the duohad failed to return the money despite repeated assurances. However, police said Kuldeep committed suicide as hewas depressed over not doing well in his academics and wastinghis parents hard-earned money. Besides, he was also wworriedover the amount paid to the two for his admission. "A case of abetment to suicide and cheating has beenregistered against Alok Sinha and Naseem and investigation isunderway," Pathak said. Das who worked as a driver with DTC, after retirement fromarmy, said in his suicide note he had paid Rs 30 lakh in cashand a demand draft of Rs 5 lakh to the accused for Kuldeep’sadmission in a private medical college. Police said the accused had returned Rs 12.5 lakh toDas and promised to return the balance by September 15. The returned money was later used to send Kuldeep for MBBSstudies in Russia. The suicide note mentioned phone numbers and addresses ofthe accused whom the money was given for Kuldeep’s admission. Das also sought forgiveness for his act, from his parentsand relatives. Police said Das belonged to a rich family and had alsotaken Rs 20 lakh from his father for his son’s studies abroad. He had constructed a new house and his family membersincluding his parents and brothers were shocked that he hadany financial problem which prompted him to take the extremestep. PTI SLB VIT TIR ZMNTIR