Meghalaya man moots court sanction to kill ailing sons

A father has decided to seek permission from the Meghalaya High Court for mercy killing of his three sons who have thalassemia, a blood disease.

"I can no longer see my children suffering. I have nothing left but to seek permission from the Meghalaya High Court to take away the lives of my children before I commit suicide," 50-year-old Abdul Rahim told IANS.

Rahim, a shoe merchant, said that he has to spend Rs.45,000 each month on the blood transfusion of his sons Sadik Ahmed, 16, Suheil Ahmed, 14, and Mohammad Samim, nine.

Though originally from Assam, Rahim lives in Meghalaya, while his wife and other children live in Doboka in Assam's Nagaon district.

"Only god and my family knows about the suffering that I am undergoing for the treatment of my three ailing children. I have sold off my properties and even my shoe factory. I did all I could to meet the medical requirements of my three sons," he said.

He added that he would approach the Meghalaya and Assam governments for medical assistance his children need.

"If the governments refuse to provide assistance, then I have no other option but move the court with a plea that permission should be granted to kill my three sons and then kill myself," Rahim said.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister Alexander Hek said: "Rahim has not approached us. If he does, the government will examine the matter and then take a decision accordingly."

In Meghalaya, a universal medical health insurance for all residents provides medical relief of Rs.90,000 annually to a family of five and Rs.1.6 lakh in case of critical illness.