Poverty-hit mom poisons 4 kids in Kovai

According to police, Hamsaveni (37), wife of Govindaraj (40), a lorry driver, had poisoned her four children, two daughters aged 16 and 13 and two sons aged 10 and seven, with grinded oleander seeds (arali) and she too consumed the same on Wednesday night.

A native of Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district, the family had settled down on Thyagi Kumaran Street near Thanneer Pandal area in Coimbatore over the last 13 years. “Her second daughter was suffering from some lung ailment and was undergoing treatment in a private hospital. Hamsaveni was depressed over her health condition and the family’s inability to meet her medical expenses,” the police said.

Govindaraj had gone to his native village for a condolence leaving behind his wife and four children alone. “Depressed over the worsening health of her daughter and their poor financial situation, Hamsaveni decided to take the extreme step. She fed her children with food mixed with the poisonous seed and she too consumed the same,” the police said. When the children complained that the food tasted very bitter, Hamsaveni made a sudden change of her mind and called out her neighbours to inform them of having consumed poison to end their lives.

The woman and her four children were immediately taken to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where they were undergoing treatment in a critical condition.  On receiving information, the Peelamedu police have registered a case and further investigations are on.