Ex-panchayat chief, three others of his family end lives

In a suicide pact, a 47-year old man, who was a former chief of a local panchayat near here, his wife, son and a daughter have been ended their lives by consuming poison, police said today.

Residents of Sarkkarthoppu near here Pon Kumar, a former panchayat chief of Purangarai near here, his wife Sumathi, 25-year old son Deenadayalan and teenage daughter Shanmugapriya died late last night.

"It is a suicide. Based on our preliminary investigations, we suspect that debt could be the reason for the suicide of the family. However, we have not found any suicide note," Deputy police superintendent, Silambarasan told PTI.
 

Deenadayalan had rushed out his house and told neighbours that all of his family had consumed poison. They were rushed to the government hospital here where all except Deenadayalan were declared to be brought dead.

Though Deenadayalan was taken to the Villupuram Government Medical College Hospital for better treatment he died on the way. Pon Kumar has another daughter who was married and living in Chennai.