Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya (SP)

Mandya, Feb 24: Frustrated at unending bouts of tragedies in family, a lady teacher along with her four children, hanged herself. This heart-rending incident occurred at Maradevanahalli village in the district.

The deceased are, Meenakshamma (48), a teacher by profession, and her children, Yogashree (25), Padma (23), Suchitha (21), and Manje Gowda (14). The family has left behind a suicide note.

Eldest daughter of Meenakshamma, Yogashree, had been married to Umesha from Kadaba in Turuvekere taluk a few months back. Although the duo seemed to be doing well initially, Umesh reportedly began to torture his wife mentally and physically for petty reasons, after she came to know about his illicit relationship with his sister-in-law.

Hurt by this development, Yogashree came to her parental home and told her mother and sisters about her travails. Meenakshamma, who had lost her husband, Rame Gowda, to heart attack a couple of months back, lost all hopes in life. Members of the neighbouring house found five lifeless bodies hanging from ropes on Monday morning during their visit there to deliver milk as usual. The villagers immediately passed on information to police from Bellur station, after which a case was registered.

Ramadevanahalli villagers, who grew angry over this tragic incident, blocked national highway 75, demanding immediate arrest of the culprit. After the policemen talked with the protesters and promised to arrest Umesh, the protest was withdrawn.

In her five-page suicide note, Meenakshamma expressed her last wish to transfer all her assets to Saibaba orphanage at Srirangapatna. She also had requested to cremate all the five bodies by the side of her late husband's grave. This wish was fulfilled by the villagers.