M A I N   N E W S

Penury drives family to death
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

UKLANA (Hisar), Jan 20 — Apparently fed up with poverty, a young couple committed suicide in Chamar Khera village after poisoning their two children.According to neighbours, Bhura Ram (25), his wife Saroj (20) and children — Puja (4) and Deepak (2) — were found dead in their house last night.

Bhura Singh used to drive a jeep and could comfortably earn his livelihood. But fate willed otherwise. He was taken seriously ill.This made him incapable of any job.

His two small children were also taken ill. His wife alone was left to feed and nurse the family. As she felt she could not earn a living to provide bread and medicines to her ailing husband and children, death seemed the only way out to end their misery.

Bhura Ram was a landless labourer who would drive a jeep during off season.“It was difficult for the couple to see their children dying for want of medicines”, one of the villagers said.

He said the people were not in a position to help them. “When we cannot manage our own livelihood, how can we help others”, he said.Yesterday Saroj reportedly prepared a sweet dish.

Laced with poison, she first gave it to her children, the couple ate the poisonous dish themselves later. The bodies have been taken to the Civil Hospital here for post-mortem. The police said no suicide note had been found. From circumstantial evidence, it appeared to be a case of suicide.