Maharashtra: Family of nine found dead, note suggests suicide pact due to debt

The deceased belong to the families of two brothers in Mhaisal town. While six of the bodies were found in one house, the other three were in the second house, the police said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and a murder case has been registered against the four accused. (Representational)

The police in Maharashtra’s Sangli district have launched a probe after nine dead bodies, belonging to the families of two brothers, were found in two houses in Mhaisal town Monday. Officers said there were no external injuries on any of the bodies and that they suspect that the deaths were the result of a suicide pact triggered by financial issues.

According to the police, the nine bodies were discovered around Monday noon at the residences of Manik Vhanmore (49), a veterinarian, and his brother Popat Vhanmore (52), a teacher, in Miraj taluk’s Mhaisal town. While six of the bodies were found in one house, the other three were in the second house located nearly a kilometre away, officers said. Senior police officers in Sangli district rushed to the spot soon and a preliminary probe was launched.

Deputy superintendent of police (Miraj division) Ashok Virkar said, “We have found what appears to be a suicide note. The nine deceased belong to the families of two brothers – a veterinarian and a teacher – based at Mhaisal. All the initial clues point to the deaths being the result of a suicide pact. While a probe is currently on into the causes, we suspect that the families faced some financial issues.”

Special inspector general of police (Kolhapur range) Manojkumar Lohiya said, “Primary probe suggests that there are no external injuries on any of the bodies. Some kind of poisoning seems to be the reason behind all of their deaths.”

Teams conducting forensic analysis and those from the local police station reached the spot, besides officers from the crime branch of Sangli police, to carry out the investigation.

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