Mounting debt: Two women found dead, two others of family survive with injuries
Bengaluru (PTI): Two women were found dead with their throats slit, while two others of the family escaped with injuries on the outskirts of the city, in an alleged attempt to die in the face of mounting debt, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred in Mallenahalli village under Attibele police station limits of Bengaluru Rural district on Sunday, they said.
Police said Asha (55) and her daughter Varshita (32) were found dead at home with their throats slit. Asha's son Mohan (27) and 10-year-old grandson Mayank Gowda survived with injuries and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Knives were found at the spot, indicating that the injuries may have been inflicted by Mohan before he attempted to die by suicide, they said.
Mayank is Varshita's son. After her husband passed away, she had been living at her mother's house, they added. The matter was reported to the police by hospital authorities.
According to police, Mohan had been primarily involved in running a chit fund on a large scale for the past four to five years. The siblings lived in houses next to each other. Before attempting suicide, they also recorded a video claiming they were ending their lives due to heavy financial losses.
"The preliminary inquiry revealed that Mohan had suffered heavy losses and was finding it difficult to repay. The four of them recorded a video stating that they were under heavy debt, and could not continue living. After recording the video, they locked the door and attempted suicide," Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru Rural) Chandrakanth MV told PTI Videos.
The police said that when they inspected the spot, Asha and her daughter were found dead. Injured Mohan and Mayank were immediately taken to the hospital by their uncle.
"They are currently undergoing treatment at Narayana Hospital," he said.
"We will investigate all aspects to determine the exact cause behind the incident," Chandrakanth said.
Police said Mohan was running different chit fund schemes valued up to Rs 1 crore. The types of festival chits he was running include mutton chits, firecracker chits and Ugadi festival chits, among others.
"It appears that excessive spending and getting trapped in debt may have led to this situation. When people who had given money started demanding repayment, he may have taken this step," the officer said.
The exact manner in which the death occurred can only be confirmed after the post-mortem examination, the officer said. "Asha was diagnosed with a brain tumour as well, and was in a wheelchair. Her throat had been deeply slit. From this, it appears that Mohan may have done it," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
