At least five members of a family, including three children, were found dead in Karnataka's Tumakuru in a suspected case of a suicide pact over severe money problems, according to the police on Monday.
As per the information, the family was forced to take the extreme step due to financial problems and alleged harassment by money lenders. The police have registered a case of murder and abetment to commit suicide against seven people.
The deceased couple, Gharib Sab (46) and his wife Sumaiya (33) are also among the accused for allegedly strangling their children - Hazra (14), Mohammed Subhan (11) and Mohammed Muneer (9) - before dying by suicide themselves.
A video of Gharib Sab was obtained by the police, in which he requested Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara and police officers to punish those who forced his family to take the extreme step.
Sab hailed from Lakkenahalli village in Shira Taluk of Tumakuru, and sold 'kebabs' for a livelihood. He and his family lived in abject poverty and borrowed money from several people including accused Khalandar, who later harassed him and his family.
Parameshwara mourned the deaths and promised to get the matter properly investigated.
(with inputs from PTI)
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