Hyderabad woman kills son, dies by suicide; another family member battling for life

Hyderabad: A 27-year-old woman allegedly poisoned her 11-month-old son and later died by suicide at her residence at Hastinapuram in Meerpet. The incident came to light on Friday. The woman's mother also reportedly consumed poison after discovering the deaths and is currently undergoing treatment at hospital.According to police, the woman, Sushmitha, had been facing harassment from her husband, Yashwanth Reddy. A complaint was lodged by her paternal uncle, Bitha Sanjeeva Reddy, alleging that Sushmitha was subjected to harassment by her husband, which drove her to take the extreme step. Police said Sushmitha first administered an unknown poison to her infant son, Ashwanth Nandan Reddy, and later ended her life.The child's first birthday was due in a few days, and the family had reportedly gone shopping for the occasion earlier this week.Police said that when Yashwanth Reddy returned home from work, he found his wife hanging from a ceiling fan in the bedroom and the child lying dead. Sushmitha's mother, Lalitha, 50, was found unconscious at the scene and was rushed to hospital, where she remained under treatment. The exact substance consumed by Lalitha and the circumstances leading to her condition were yet to be ascertained.Family members of the deceased woman have alleged that Yashwanth Reddy frequently harassed Sushmitha, restricted her movement, and prevented her from interacting with others. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.