The toll in the suspicious deaths reported on October 8 at Aralasurali village in Tirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka increased to four as 28-year-old Bharath succumbed to burn injuries on October 9. His father Raghavendra, 63, mother Nagarathna, 55, and elder brother Sriram, 34, were found dead on October 8 morning.
Bharath, who suffered burn injuries, was rushed to a hospital. He succumbed a day later in a hospital in Bengaluru. Tirthahalli police learned about the incident on October 8 morning.
The police are investigating the case based on the death note found at the residence, and the dying declaration of Bharat. The police recorded his statement on video in the presence of doctors before he breathed his last. It is not clear what led to the death of all four members of the family.
Bharath, in his statement, reportedly stated that his mother, Nagarathna, died after falling in the bathroom. After learning about her death, Raghavendra suffered a heart attack and died.
Later, the brothers, who were in shock, decided to end their lives. They penned a note, in which they mentioned the civil disputes the family had been engaged in, besides a loan of about ₹80 lakh. The brothers planned to cremate the bodies using pieces of wood and later end their lives. During their alleged attempt to end their lives, the elder brother died while the younger one ran out, unable to bear the burn injuries.
The family was cultivating areca on 10 acres, and they had a stock of 700 quintals of the crop. With the land and harvest, the family could have easily repaid the loan, said police officers.
(Those in distress and facing suicidal thoughts can call up the State’s helpline 104 for counseling)
