New Delhi: A 39-year old IITian from Betul in Madhya Pradesh killed his wife and kids ablaze in a car fearing of being infected by HIV virus.
He also made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide but after the tests no virus was found in his body.
Refusing to believe his suicide-pact story, police sent his blood samples for tests. "We got the reports on Thursday. The samples tested negative," said SHO S K Singh.
As Times of India reported, Praveen Manwar said, “"I used to visit Delhi's red light areas. Six months ago, I had an ulcer in my mouth and it became a recurring problem. I got scared and Googled for AIDS symptoms. The results matched my conditions, especially weight loss.” He then went to a lab in Chhatarpur for a blood test. The reports showed he was HIV positive. “I was shattered by the results,” added.
Manwar further said that his wife and younger daughter also showed signs of HIV so they decided not to commit suicide alone and leave their children to fend for themselves.
The family went to Amravati on February 28, where the couple thought of killing the children first and then hanging themselves. He searched internet for better ways for committing suicide but after failing to do so, he finally planned to immolate the family.
Manwar said he drove to Betul on March 4 and with wife Shilpa and daughters, Sharvani, 9, and Praneeti, 2, inside he doused the car with petrol. "I entered the car and rolled it down a gorge. It hit a tree and overturned. I gained conscious after sometime. I came out of a broken window and set the car on fire," he said.
Manwar said he loved his family but social stigma prompted him kill his wife and children. "I would not live long. Today or tomorrow, I will also commit suicide."
He did not show any emotion when he was told he was HIV negative. Police have booked him for murder and destruction of evidence.
