Ashram priest’s wife, daughter found dead in water tank

CHITRADURGA: The wife and daughter of a priest reportedly committed suicide by drowning themselves in a water tank at the residential quarters of an ashram here on Tuesday night. The deceased are Geetha (42) and Priyanka (20).

The deceased Geetha and Priyanka.

Geetha’s husband Suresh is a priest at the Thipperudraswamy Ashram here, but the exact reason for their deaths was not immediately known. The two were found drowned in a small tank near their house, raising suspicion of depression.

The water tank (marked) in which the mother and daughter were found dead.

The husband Suresh said he also doubles up as an autorickshaw driver. “My son had gone to do puja at the temple while I was driving the autorickshaw. Around 5.30 pm on Tuesday, my son returned home home and found my wife and daughter dead. We immediately informed the police. My wife and daughter have left behind a death note saying that she would constantly get headaches. My daughter also mentioned that she wouldn’t live without the mother”.

Suresh and his son.

Chitradurga SP Dharmender Kumar Meena said, “The deceased Geetha’s elder brother Somashekar has lodged a complaint stating that Geetha had been facing some health issues and was under stress, but raised suspicion after witnessing the scene of crime. We have collected evidence from the scene of crime. Further investigation will be taken up after we get post-mortem examination and viscera reports”.

The Chitradurga Town police have registered a case and are investigating.