DINDIGUL: In a heart rending incident, a couple poisoned to death their three grown up children, worried over their future after exhausting medical treatment, before committing suicide by hanging at their house in Markandeyapuram village near the pilgrime town of Palani in the district in the wee hours on Wednesday.
Police said the deceased were Murugesan (46), a big landlord, his wife Krishnaveni (40) and their three children: Thenmozhi (18), Vasanthi (16) and Vasanthakumar (14). While Thenmozhi was afflicted with night blindness (malaikan), her sister Vasanthi was suffering from partial mental illness. The couple's only son, Vasanthakumar, was disabled.
The three could not attend school properly due to their physical disabilities. The couple took them to various hospitals for treatment but all their efforts turned out to be futile.
As such, the couple was worried about the future of the grown up children. On the intervening night of Wednesday, they allegedly administered poison to the three children after dressing them neatly and adorning the girls with jewels and flowers.
They also smeared sandalwood paste on the fore head and cheeks of the trio. Then, they had apparently performed the final rites to their wards before hanging themselves from the ceiling fan in different ropes.
The tragedy came to light when neighbors suspected foul play when the door was not opened since morning and informed to the police. Keeranur police have registered a case and sent the bodies to the Palani government hospitalfor autopsy.
Superintendent of police Saravanan said the couple was close relatives and were worried over the future wellbeing of the children due to their physical disbailities. Further investigation is on, he added.