KOLKATA Unable to bear mounting debts - worth Rs 17 lakh - and being forced to work in a factory which they once owned, a 56-year-old woman and her 26-year-old son reportedly died by suicide at their residence near Fariapukur. The incident was reported around 10am on Monday. Victims Mohua Mal and her son Somnath were found hanging in two rooms of their second-floor home.
Their neighbours and acquaintances, who had come in search of them after not being able to contact the duo, took them to RG Kar Hospital where they were declared brought dead. Police said that a possible suicide note recovered from the house has indicated that they ended their lives a little after 1am. "The time of our deaths is between 1am and 1.30am," the note stated.
"The duo had to look after a lathe factory after Mohua's husband Nepalchandra passed away about a year-and-a-half ago. The note indicates that their condition worsened during the Covid-induced lockdown. They initially leased out the factory to make ends meet and took loans to stay afloat. Later, Somnath had to join this factory and take up a job. The debts kept rising and touched Rs 17 lakh. It was then that they decided to end their lives," an officer said.
Officers at Lalbazar informed TOI that they are investigating all angles.
"The two victims were under financial stress. We will be speaking to the relatives once they recover from the initial shock. Prima facie, from evidence collected thus far, it seems that both were suffering from some form of depression and they had entered into a suicide pact. There is still no sign of foul play and no one has complained to us on the same," said a joint commissioner.
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