A tragic incident shook Belagavi, where a 28-year-old woman and her young son were found dead after an alleged suicide. The heartbreaking incident has triggered emotional scenes outside the BIMS (Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences) mortuary, and the family of the deceased woman even accused her in-laws of harassment, which may have pushed her to take the extreme step.
The deceased were identified as Prema Talwar (28) and her son Bhuvan (4). They had been kept in the BIMS mortuary for post-mortem examination as police continue their investigation into the case.
There was tension outside the mortuary as grieving family members confronted relatives from the woman’s marital family. Witnesses said the deceased woman’s mother-in-law and another member of her husband’s family attempted to assault the woman. Police officers who were at the scene intervened and stopped the situation from spreading.
In her husband's family, the woman’s family claimed that continuous harassment by her mother-in-law and other members of her husband’s family brought about their tragic deaths. They sought criminal action against all those involved and appealed to the authorities to provide justice for Prema and her son.
The relatives of the deceased woman who were involved in the case said that the family had been under immense financial stress due to a ₹10 lakh loan that was borrowed by a co-operative society. They say the debt and the alleged harassment put Prema under unbearable mental pressure.
Family members said she had felt very depressed about it, and that she had taken a very extreme step along with her child. But these allegations are not independently confirmed, and all aspects of the case are being investigated.
Emotional scenes unfolded outside the mortuary as relatives wept, cried and pleaded for justice, demanding that those responsible face severe punishment. They urged the police to investigate accurately and thoroughly the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Police have registered the case at the Belagavi Rural Police Station and have begun collecting statements from family members, neighbours, and other residents who may have information relevant to the investigation. There is also documentary or electronic evidence that could help to determine the sequence of events.
Officials have not yet disclosed whether any suicide note has been found from the scene. They said the causes and circumstances of the deaths will be known once the post-mortem report is completed and that they will seek to determine what led to the deaths.
The tragedy has once again brought into focus the emotional and financial pressures families can face and the need to deal with disputes with legal and counselling support before they go to tragic lengths.
Police have appealed to the public not to speculate about the case that is ongoing in court and not to spread information that may be untrue while the investigation is ongoing.
If you or a friend or family member is feeling emotional anguish, or feeling suicidal, or depressed, the help of a mental health professional from a trusted family member, friend, or professional psychiatrist in your area is very much appreciated. Emergency services and suicide prevention helplines are also available in the local community, and help is provided immediately.
