Mother suicides with 2 kids

COOCH BEHAR, June 10: A mother allegedly committed suicide with her two babies by setting fire on her body at Changrabandha in Mekhliganj sub-division yesterday. Police suspect that she did it following unbearable poverty. Though no complaint lodged the police started an inquiry into the incident.

It was learnt that Sabita Barman (22) of Uchalpukuri village was married off with Pradip Barman of Baro-kamath village under Changrabandha Gram Panchayat area about four years ago. The couple had two kids – Sujit Barman (3) and Lakshmi Barman (3-months). Pradip was a rickshaw-van puller by profession. About one month ago he sold out his van due to poverty and left for Delhi to seek a better job. There he failed to get a suitable job and returned home recently. He started earning by working as a casual daily wage labourer. On the day before yesterday the poverty stricken couple entered into a quarrel as they did on earlier occasions too, locals said. Yesterday, Sabita tied her son and daughter with her body with a gamchha (napkin), poured kerosene and set on fire inside their residence. She died on the spot and the two kids died later at Jalpaiguri Sadar hospital.

Soon after the incident Sabita’s husband (Pradip) and her father-in-law and mother-in-law fled away. The bodies were sent for post-mortem. The local BDO, Mr Shuvashis Ghosh visited the area today. Police initiated an inquiry to ascertain whether it was a case of mere suicide out of poverty or anything else. []