BELAGAVI: Three members of a family died while one is battling for life after they entered into a suicide pact and consumed poison, at Joshimal in the old city area on Wednesday morning. A death note found at home said that one of the deceased had run into huge losses in chit fund business.
The deceased include Santosh Kuradekar (44), his mother Suvarna Kuradekar and sister Mangala Kuradekar while another sister, Sunanda Kuradekar, is battling for life in hospital. Sunanda had initially opposed ending their lives, but after the others consumed poison, she too followed suit.
In the death note, Santosh said that he owed some people money from the chit fund. He claimed that he had collected 500 gm of gold from different people and given it to Raju Kudatarkar, a goldsmith in Vadgaon. However, when he asked for the return of the gold, Raju and his wife threatened him, Santosh noted.
Santosh also claimed that Raju had spread fake news that he had absconded with 2-3 kg of gold and several people were visiting his house and harassing him. Unable to bear the harassment, he is committing suicide, Santosh noted, and left a message for the police to collect the gold from Raju and return it to the investors. He also demanded strict punishment for Raju.
It is said that Santosh convinced his mother and two sisters for two hours about the suicide pact claiming that it was the only way out. He then gave the poison that he had brought with him to his mother and sister Mangala. Sunanda, who initially opposed it, later consumed the poison and is battling for life.
The Shahpur police visited the house and have taken up further investigation after registering a case.
Elsewhere in the district, a Hescom lineman was electrocuted to death at Mugalihal village in Yeragatti taluk on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Maruthi Avali (25) of Bagaranal village.
Maruthi was electrocuted while carrying out some work on an electricity pole. His body lay hanging on the pole for three hours and none of the Hescom officials turned up. The villagers vented their anger at Hescom for not showing humanity.
