Father, daughter die after drinking contaminated water

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 12 JULY: A father and his six year old daughter have died after drinking poisoned water, doctors of the Harishchandrapur rural hospital said.

Another nine year old daughter, who fell ill and was admitted to same rural hospital, is fighting for her life.

The deceased have been identified as Sultan Ali, aged 33, and Anjuma Khatun aged 5. Both were residents of Malipakhar village under Daulatpur gram panchayat in Harishchandrapur-II block.

Police started investigation an after sealing the contaminated tube-well, following reports from locals that “after being humiliated on theft charges, Sultan Ali committed suicide by consuming poisoned water at about 9 am”.

“He poured poison into the tube well and drunk the poisoned water. Later he forced his daughters to drink water”, villagers said.

Rupali Khatun, aged 9, another daughter, disclosed that father forced her to drink water. She fell ill after drinking the water.

They were admitted to the hospital around 10 am, and after some time, two of them died. The doctors were able to wash the stomach of Rupali in time.

She is fighting for her life with the support of an oxygen aid. Neighbours have also informed police that Sultan wanted to end the lives of all his family members after being humiliated by being branding a thief.

Information was spread to the people that having drunk water from a tube well, three members of a family had died.

On receiving this information, Mr Tajmul Hossain, MLA from Harishchandrapur, rushed to the hospital and talked to the health officials. He informed the matter to police for an inquiry, and approached the police to test the water of the tube well.

Finally, local leaders got information that a resident from Daulatpur village had come to Ali's house on the morning of the incident, and charged Sultan Ali with the theft of a motor of a pump set up at his crop land for irrigation, and asked him to return it soon, threatening him with dire consequences.

Though police have started investigations, they are waiting to talk to Rupali, to see if she can give clues following her recovery.

Sultan's wife and two year old daughter were not present when the incident took place at the home. Police are also looking for the man who came to his home bringing the charges.