Five of family commit suicide over debt, neigbhour’s ‘harassment’

TUMAKURU: Five members of a family committed suicide, leaving behind a suicide note, at Sadashiva Nagar in the city over alleged fears of huge financial debt, on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Garib Saab, his wife Sumaiya, daughter Hasina, sons Mohammad Shabir and Mohammad Munir. The incident occurred in Tilak Park police limits.

In the death note, they have said, “We had paid Rs 45,000 for the house and have to pay three months rent, Rs 15,000 should be given to Jirina Aunty, my bike to my brother Ajaz, our mobile phone to my sister-in-law Parveena. My last salutation goes to my uncle who helped us when I got to work. Some items from the Melukote shop and Rs 5,000 should go to my uncle. We are responsible for our death. The neigbhour Khalandar, his daughter Sania, his eldest son, and Sania, the daughter of Shabana who live on the upper floor, are always jealous at our family. They are the cause of our deaths, so we appeal to the Home Minister to take action against them”.

The family lived in Tumakuru for the last year and was running a kebab shop. Garib Saab was a resident of Lakkanahalli in Sira taluk and shifted to Tumakuru for his children’s education.

District Superintendent of Police Ashok K V, briefing media persons about the suicide case, said the bodies of the couple were found hanging while the three children were in bed. “The deceased hailed from Lakkanahalli Sira taluk a and the Garib Saab had sent a video message to his relatives before his death. We will check it and action will be taken based on the video complaint”, he said.

Garib Saab left a letter addressed to the Home Minister and starts with greetings. “I started a kebab shop because I was born into a poor family. I came to Tumakuru to educate my children. I had opened a kebab shop in Sadashiv Nagar here. But Khalandar, who lives downstairs of our rented house, harassed me. I was a member of the association, which is run by Khalandar’s wife. I borrowed a loan and I used to pay the loan on time, yet they are harassing me for no reason. Our children were beaten by Khalandar’s son Shahabad and daughter Sania. When I asked for justice with knowledgeable people, they took Khalandar’s side because he was rich. If I took money from somewhere, they would lie about me. They would also come home and harass me to clean the building. Shabana, who was with them, was also harassing them”, he wrote.