FINANCIAL debt, caused by medical treatment of wife suffering from brain cancer, drove a couple from Kerala to end their lives. The couple consumed a Frooti drink laced with poison late in the night at their rented accomodation in Gajanan Nagar area of Jaripatka Police Station onThursday.The incident came to the fore when their 11-year-old daughter woke up on Friday morning.

 

The deceased have been identified as Riju Vijayan alias Vijay Nair (42) and Priya Riju Nair (40). The couple is a resident of Trivandrum, Kerala. They were presently staying at Gajanan Nagar, Jaripatka. According to the police, Priya was diagnosed with brain cancer. As a result, the family had come to Nagpur for medical treatment three months ago and took a house on rent in Gajanan Nagar. Every week, Riju had to take his wife to the hospital and spent at least Rs 20,000 every week for the treatment. As a result, Riju borrowed money from relatives and friends. As the loan was to be paid on July 1, he received calls from lenders. Frustrated with the financial debts, the couple decided to end their lives. On Wednesday afternoon, Riju bought poison and Frooti. After having dinner, Riju mixed the poison in frooti, a favourite drink of their daughter, and consumed it late at night when their daughter was sleeping. Vaishnavi woke up in the morning only to see her parents lying unconscious.

 

The smell of poison in the room made her vomit and she left the house. The house owner noticed something suspicious and opened the door only to see the bodies lying on the floor. Jaripatka Police rushed to the spot after receiving the information and sent the bodies for post-mortem. A case of accidental death was registered byJaripatka police. According to police, Rijuwent to the market withVaishnavi on Wednesday andpurchased Frooti. He mixedpoison in the drink and consumed it with his wife. However, the girl fell asleep inthe meantime. When Riju came to Nagpur, he used to show a cheque of Rs 3.69 lakh to an auto-rickshawdriver which he used to travel in. Riju even borrowed Rs10,000 from the driver on thepromise that he would returnthe money once the chequewould be encashed.