Kannada activist,family commit suicide

Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) P S Harsha said the incident came to light at around 5.30 pm when neighbours peeped in through windows after no one emerged from the house all day.

“I heard a scream in the street and went to Gopi’s house. I found Gopi hanging and his son dead on the floor in the hall. His wife and daughter died in another room,” neighbour Shashikumar said.

The police have collected footage from a CCTV installed in the house. “The footage will give us vital clues about the incident. We hope to find out if the children and Jayashree consumed poison themselves or they were forced to do so,” a police officer said.

DCP Harsha said the police found a note listing Gopi’s debtors. “We have moved the bodies to Bowring Hospital for post-mortem,” he said.

The police said Gopi left behind Rs 22,000 with the note to perform the last rites of his family. He also apportioned equal shares of his property to his sisters before taking the extreme step.

The police said Gopi’s son Dileep,a student of PUC at Siddaganga College in Tumkur,excelled in academics. His daughter Sanjitha was a class X student at a private school.

Gopi earned a living from a music shop and devoted the rest of his time to activism. With a curly mop and imposing moustache his face was a constant presence in every absurd Vatal Nagaraj protest.