Man kills wife, son over financial crisis

A man killed his wife and two-and-a-half-year-old son here due to financial crisis, police said on Saturday.

Vikram Bhatia, 35, an interior decorator, who is currently jobless, smothered his wife Neetu, 31, and strangulated his son Lavitra on Friday evening on the occasion of Karva Chauth, when women fast for the longevity of their husbands.

The incident, which occurred at Keshav Puram in west Delhi, was reported to police around 8 p.m. by Bhatia's landlord.

Police said that Bhatia, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab, was also lying on the floor in an unconscious state along with the bodies of his wife and son.

"Bhatia was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is being treated. It is yet to be ascertained whether he tried to commit suicide after killing his wife and son," a police official said.

"Initial investigation reveals that Bhatia is in a financial crisis and was presently jobless. Frustration owing to financial crisis forced him to kill his dear ones," the official said.

According to the officials, Bhatia and Neetu got married four years ago.