In an all too sad moment of tragedy, a peaceful village - Khapparpur- under the limits of the Mahavan police station, became the scene of a mass tragedy. On Tuesday morning, a 35-year-old farmer, Manish Kumar, his 32-year-old wife Seema and their three young children, were found dead in a single room at their home.
Discovery of the Bodies
The incident became apparent when Manish’s brother became alarmed when the children failed to come out to play as normal. Feeling something was amiss, he jumped the boundary wall and burst open the door to discover his brother’s entire family was dead. Police reportedly found glasses of milk next to the bodies, leading the authorities to suspect that the family drank something poisonous.
The Victims
- Manish Kumar (35): A local farmer.
- Seema (32): Manish’s wife.
- Honey (8): Eldest daughter.
- Priyanshi (5): Second daughter.
- Pankaj/Prateek (2): Youngest son.
The Evidence: A Message On The Wall
In a chilling detail reminiscent of the Burari case, a suicide note was present, written directly on the wall of the room itself. Manish and Seema were taking their own lives of their own volition and explicitly asked that the police "not make any trouble for anyone." Manish's mobile phone also had a video which had been recovered. In the clip he was said to have confessed to the extreme step and mentioned recent financial dealings including the sale of a plot for ₹12 lakh.
Police and Government Response
Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar visited the place and told, "All bodies sent for post-mortem to ascertain the causes of death and time of death." The Chief Minister is in deep grief at the catastrophe, with district officials advising to help the survivors and investigate where the financial and other pressures like family disputes may lie.
A Community in Shock
Seema’s father, Vijendra, told reporters that he had met the couple only a day earlier and had seen no warning signs. "They seemed normal. I never thought that he could take that extreme step," he said.
