Caught in debt trap, man kills four of his family, attempts suicide

Five-page note written by him mentions details of the piled up dues that forced him to murder his wife, two kids; didn’t want them to suffer that burden.
Relatives of the deceased family mourning at Pammal on Tuesday
Relatives of the deceased family mourning at Pammal on Tuesday

CHENNAI: Frustrated over huge debts, a textile merchant allegedly killed four of his family members - mother, wife and two children - by slitting their throats when they were asleep at Pammal on Tuesday morning. He also attempted to kill himself in the same manner, but then called an ambulance and is undergoing treatment.

the accused along with his wife and kids
| Express

P Damodaran used a sharp kitchen knife to slash the throats of his mother Saraswathi (68), wife Deepa (37) and their two children Roshan (7) and Meenakshi (5) around 3.30 am when they were asleep, Shankar Nagar police, which is investigating the murders, said.

Police recovered a five-page note written by Damodaran addressed to his in-laws in which he mentioned details of his debts.

Investigators said he killed his family members and wrote a letter which had blood stains and called his brother-in-law Raja, Deepa’s elder brother from whom he had regularly borrowed money to run his textile store at Pammal, earlier in the morning and informed him that he was feeling very embarrassed that he was unable to repay him.

Police further said Damodaran had also told Raja that he felt like killing himself. Raja called up his parents, also living at Pammal immediately and asked them to rush to their daughter’s house. When Deepa’s parents rushed to her house a little past 6.30 am, they noticed Deepa and Saraswathi lying on the floor with blood splattered all over.

Meanwhile, an ambulance had already reached the spot, police said, adding that it was Damodaran who had called 108 seeking medical support. His children Roshan and Meenakshi were shifted to the hospital. Noticing him bleeding profusely from the throat, the paramedical staff made him get into the ambulance. The ambulance reached Tambaram Taluk Government Hospital at Chromepet, where Roshan and Meenakshi were pronounced dead on arrival. Damodaran was referred to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, where he is undergoing treatment. His condition is a cause for concern, police said.

According to senior officials of St. Thomas Mount police district, Damodaran, living in a rented house on the first floor, had in the suicide note apologised to his in-laws, especially his brother-in-law, for not being able to repay the money he had borrowed from Raja. Further, he is reported to have told Raja that if he killed himself alone, the burden of debt would fall on his children. Preliminary probe ruled out any foul play or harassment.

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