Mother kills children, self

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 25 - Failing to bear the acute poverty they were in, a thirty five-year-old woman killed herself and her three minor daughters by consuming poison on this morning at Naoda village in Kaliachak police station. A fifth of the family Tumpa Mandal (13) is still struggling for her life in Malda district hospital. Her condition is stated to be serious. According to the Malda SP, Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal, the deceased Shova Mondal, wife of a rickshaw van puller Hakim Mondal had a quarrel with her husband last night. Hakim allegedly beat his wife and daughters last night and this morning over a row on food. “The quarrel broke out last night when Hakim demanded an ornament from his wife, which he intended to sell to procure some food for the family,” the police, said. “Unable to bear the pangs of hunger and to escape the torture she received from her husband regularly Shova perhaps decided to end her life and the lives of her children in this fashion,” the Malda SP, said. According to the police, Shova’s three daughters Kachi (2), Kajal (4), Bithika (9) and she herself were declared dead by the Malda district hospital authorities after admission for treatment. “Although she took the lives of her three daughters along with her’s the mother, however, tactfully saved her eleven-year-old son, Vivek,” a senior police officer said. According to locals, the family was facing acute food crisis for quite some time. “For the children, the mid-day meal provided by their schools was the only source of sustenance,” the police and locals, said. Despite the conditions they were in, “Hakim’s name was not enlisted in the BPL category,” said Archana Mandal, a gram panchayat member. Villagers also informed that Hakim had been to Mumbai in search of an income but was forced to return after he fell ill. Their savings were exhausted a few days ago. The incident occurred today after Hakim left the house for work. Sobha gave Rs two to her son Vivek and told him to gave some food out side, before poisoning her daughters and herself. The boy, after returning discovered his mother and sisters on the floor, groaning in pain. He was the one to inform the neighbours, the police said. #