Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jul 17: In an incident which happened at Periyottu, Barya village in the taluk on Monday July 16, an aged couple committed suicide together.

The deceased couple were Sanjeeva Poojary (60) from Periyottu, and his wife, Seetha (57). Both closed the doors of a room inside their home and consumed poison. While Sanjeeva died on the spot, Seetha, who was found in a critical condition, breathed her last on her way to the hospital.

It is gathered that Sanjeeva used to suffer from asthma and heart-related ailments since sometime. He used to earn his living by working as coolie, but because of his health problems, he was unable to do any work since a few months. The health condition of Seetha too was not good. It is felt that health issues would have worked on their minds when they took decision to kill themselves.

Out of three children of the couple, two daughters were married off. Their son, Janardana Poojary, is also married and he stayed with parents.

When the incident happened, Janardana Poojary's wife, Mohini, was at home. She said that her father-in-law normally used to be inside the room because of ill health, and her mother-in-law often gave company to her husband. "Both were at home since afternoon. After sometime, I heard groaning sound from the room. I rushed to the room but it was bolted from inside. I went up the stairs and peeped in and found that both of them were writhing in pain. I then put together neighbours, broke open the door and entered in by which time, my father-in-law had died, and my mother-in-law was in serious condition," she explained.

The family recollects Sanjeeva saying to his wife when suffering from ill health, that both of them could together die. However, the others had thought that it was a casual statement.

Uppinangady police sub-inspector, Nandakumar, visited the spot and undertook scrutiny. A case was registered in Uppinangady police station.