‘Don’t want money to be spent on treatment’: ‘Cancer-stricken’ businessman kills wife, dies by suicide

The couple’s sons – aged 28 and 25 – and Kuldip’s father, a police officer who had retired 25 years ago, were at home at the time of the incident, said police. “They rushed to the couple’s room on hearing the gunshots. Kuldip’s body was found on the floor, and Anshu was on the bed. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival,” said an officer from Nandgram police station.

A cousin of Kuldip said, “We do not know what happened. Six months ago, all of us had gathered for his son’s wedding. It was a happy family.”

Mohit (31), a neighbour, said he has known the family for the last four years. “Three days ago, I saw him (Kuldip) playing with street dogs in the colony. He loved to feed them…,” he said.

“I have a pet dog, and we shared a mutual love for animals. I never felt he was disturbed… We found out about the incident yesterday after the police arrived.”

The purported half-page suicide note stated: “I am suffering from cancer, and my family does not know about it. I do not want that money to be spent on my treatment, and even then, I won’t survive. Therefore, I am finishing myself, and I am taking my wife along because we promised to stay together, always.”

ACP Mishra said, “We have no confirmation if he had cancer. We have found some medical documents from his house and are getting them verified.”

Dharmendra Pal, Station House Officer of Nandgram police, said, “The family has confirmed that it was Kuldip’s handwriting in the suicide note, but we are looking at the murder-suicide from all angles.”

Another of Kuldip’s cousins remembered him as a “happy man”. “We do not suspect any foul play. The door of their room was shut when the incident took place. As far as his cancer is concerned, he had not shared it with anyone,” he added.