Poverty led him to 'poison' his four daughters

THE ongoing investigation into the suicide of a family of five in southwest Delhi's Rangpuri area revealed that Heera Lal's wife's death and subsequent financial crunch allegedly forced him to kill his four daughters before taking his own life.

- UJWAL JALALI

Heera Lal and his daughters allegedly died by suicide at their home. The reasons were unraveled after a probe by the police.

The father had been working as a carpenter in Indian Spinal Injury Centre, Vasant Kunj since 1996 earning a monthly salary of 38,000. After his wife passed away in August last year, he stopped going to work.

"An inquiry conducted from Indian Spinal Hospital revealed that the deceased hadn't returned to work despite receiving repeated notices, and had not borrowed any money from anyone in the past year. He was the sole earner of the house and as struggling financially," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Rohit Meena said, adding that his deceased had only a small amount in his bank account, less than ₹250.