CHENNAI: Six persons, including an elderly couple and a woman Income Tax inspector, died in a spate of suicides reported across the city on Tuesday.
In the first incident, the bodies of Ganesh (60) and his wife Usha (55) were found in a decomposed state in their house at TNHB Block 1, Mogappair West, which was locked from
inside. Ganesh, a retired engineer from the Central Public Works Department, and his wife, who took voluntary retirement from the Comptroller and Auditor General Office, do not have children and were lamenting to their neighbours about the lack of care from their relatives.
Since Ganesh did not avail his full and final settlement benefits, a staffer from his office visited the house on Friday last, but did not get any response. He returned again on Tuesday evening and on suspicion opened a window, following which stench emanated.
On information, Nolambur police visited the spot. They broke into the house and found the couple dead. It was suspected that they would have committed suicide by consuming drugs at least a week ago. It is said that the couple was not on talking terms with Usha’s sister living in the vicinity.
In another incident, a 53-year-old woman Income Tax inspector committed suicide reportedly due to depression for which she was undergoing treatment, in the wee hours of Tuesday. Police said Kalavathi’s charred body was found charred by the watchman of a two-wheeler parking lot at her residence at the Central Revenue Quarters on 15th Main Road, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman had a history of depression and was being treated by a private psychiatrist for the past five years. Her present course of the medicine had got exhausted three days ago, and she had not gone for the review.
“It is believed that she had come out of the house around 4 am and latched the house from outside while her husband was fast asleep. She had gone to the two-wheeler parking lot, a blind spot, at the extreme of the compound. She had doused herself with kerosene and set herself ablaze,” said a senior police officer investigating the case.
“Kalavathi’s husband was shocked to find her missing. He went looking for her in the neighbourhood. When he returned home around 6.30 am, the watchman tipped him off about the woman’s body in the parking lot,” the official added. The woman is survived by her husband and a married daughter. In yet another
incident, Sumathi (50), wife of Nagaraj and mother of Manikandan attached to the Flower Bazaar police station, allegedly hung herself from the ceiling when she was alone at her house on Monday night. Seven Wells Police had registered a case and are investigating. She had been in trauma after suffering multiple fractures on her leg for quite some time.
In similar incidents, Murali, (40), a fish export businessman, and resident of Samynaicken Street in Chinthadripet, committed suicide on Tuesday due to heavy loss in business, while Kesavan (29), a bachelor and resident of CKP Koil Street, Choolai, who was mentally deranged, hanged himself from the ceiling. Police have registered cases on all the incidents and are investigating.