Family of 4 found dead at home in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: A couple and their two sons were found dead at their home in Vakkom, in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district, on Tuesday. Police suspected a suicide pact, with a preliminary inquiry suggesting a financial crisis as the possible trigger.

The deceased were identified as Anil Kumar (55), his wife Sheeja (50), and their sons, Ashwin (25) and Akash (22). Anil worked as a senior clerk at Vakkom Service Cooperative Bank while Sheeja was a daily-wage worker at the legislative assembly. Ashwin had completed BCom and was searching for a job, while Akash was an engineering student in Chirayinkeezhu. Sheeja often spoke about the family's mounting debts, said ward member Santhamma S. The financial strain began after they took a large bank loan to renovate a house purchased some years ago. "Matters worsened in 2019 when Ashwin was seriously injured in an accident, resulting in multiple fractures. He was hospitalised for six months, and the family incurred heavy medical expenses, adding to their already growing debt," Santhamma said.