4 of family consume poison, two die

Late on Sunday night, a 30-year-old car dealer from Nala Sopara allegedly consumed poison along with his two daughters and wife. The car dealer and his seven-year-old daughter died immediately while his wife and eight-month-old daughter have survived and are in a critical condition. The police suspect financial problems as the reason behind the extreme step.

According to the police, Manish Singh, 30, consumed poison along with his wife Pinky, 28, and daughters Pragati, 7, and Pratiksha, eight-months-old. A suicide note written by Manish was found which did not blame any person for the extreme step. The primary investigations into the case have revealed that the car dealer was in debt and was unable to cope with the pressure leading to the extreme step. Pinky and Pratiksha are battling for their lives and are being treated at the civic-run hospital in Nala Sopara.

"Manish's father-in-law heard Pinky's screams after he found his daughter and her husband motionless. That's when both were rushed to the hospital. The woman is not in the condition to speak and is unconscious," said a Tulinj police officer.

"It is unclear whether the family members were forced to consume poison or were given the poison without their knowledge by Manish. We have registered a case of accidental death in this regard. A case of murder will be registered only after the woman reveals in her statement that the family members were forced to consume poison leading to the death of the seven-year-old girl," said Kishore Khairnar, Senior Inspector, Tulinj police station.