Two women end lives after poisoning children

According to police, Vijayalakshmi (38), wife of Karthikeyan from KG Chavady, took the extreme step after poisoning her younger daughter Santhiya (13), studying in Class 8. Her husband, who runs a lorry workshop, had stayed at his brother’s house in Ganapathy area, for the night.

While the mother and Sathiya slept in a room, her elder daughter, aged 14-year-old and studying Class 9 slept in another room. On Wednesday morning 3 am, the elder daughter woke up panicked on hearing the loud screams of her sister.

When she rushed, she found her mother and sister lying in a semi-conscious state. On hearing her cry for help, the neighbours rushed into the house and took the mother and daughter to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). Despite treatment, Vijayalakshmi died, while the little girl has been undergoing treatment in the hospital. Police suspect family issues might be the reason behind her extreme step and further inquiries are on.

In another incident, Kausalya (20), wife of Kattamuthu (26) from Veppilaikuttai village near Rasipuram in Namakkal district committed suicide after killing her ten-month-old girl, Prathisha, by giving poison. Police said Kattamuthu’s sister Ilavarasi had committed suicide on 26 November over some issue. “Kattamuthu believed that his wife abetted the suicide of his sister. He yelled at her over this issue before leaving to the work on Tuesday morning,” police added.

When he returned in the evening, Kattamuthu found his wife and daughter missing from the house. On Wednesday morning, the villagers noticed Kausalya and the baby lying dead with blood oozing out of their mouth in a cornfield near their house. It is suspected that the woman might have consumed pesticide after giving the same to her child.

The Mangalapuram police sent their bodies for post-mortem at Namakkal Government Hospital. Police have registered a case and further inquiries are on.