NABARANGPUR:A Dalit woman of Nabarangpur district poisoned her three children before consuming pesticide herself and set her house on fire on Tuesday. The deceased are Kumari Harijan (29), her two daughters Parvati (7) and Reena (4) besides her one-and-half-year-old son Nilu.
Kumari was married to Dhaniram Harijan of Dongariguda village under Kosagumuda block. Dhaniram works as a daily labourer in Bastar district of Chhattisagarh.
Around 3 pm on Tuesday, villagers found smoke coming out from Dhaniram’s house. As the door was locked from inside, they broke it open and found Kumari and her three children lying unconscious. The four were immediately rushed to community health centre at Kosagumuda where doctors declared the three children brought dead. Kumari was admitted to the health centre, but she succumbed after some time.
Nabarangpur SP Jugal Kishore said preliminary investigation revealed that Kumari first gave pesticide- laced biscuits to her children. Later she consumed pesticide herself before setting the room on fire.
He said investigation is underway and an inspector has been sent to the village to find out more details. Kumari’s motive behind the suicide is yet to be established.
The family was staying in a thatched house that was constructed with funds from Indira Awas Yojana. Dhaniram has been informed and bodies have been kept in Kosagumuda health centre.