Fear of debt forces Gorai couple to commit suicide

MUMBAI, SEPT 1: Crushed by the prospect of approaching death, a Gorai couple in their twenties hanged themselves to death -- but not befo...

MUMBAI, SEPT 1: Crushed by the prospect of approaching death, a Gorai couple in their twenties hanged themselves to death 8212; but not before they repaid their debt to society. Santosh Sawant 29 and Snehalata Sawant 25 hanged themselves at their Navratna Cooperative Society residence on Tuesday, leaving a blank cheque among three suicide notes, to repay debtors who had helped the couple pay for Santosh8217;s kidney ailment.

Steeped in debt already, the couple wrote three suicide notes before consuming poison and hanging themselves with sarees. Their bodies were discovered early today, when Snehalata8217;s brother decided to pay the Sawants8217; a visit.

Santosh, an English lecturer at Mittal College of Arts and Science in Malad, had been married to Snehalata for five months, when his two-year-old kidney ailment turned acute. Doctors had told the couple that he required a kidney transplant immediately, which would cost over Rs 1 lakh. There was also no guarantee he would survive even after the operation, they had said.

Senior Inspector with the Borivli police station, Datta Shelar, told Express Newsline that the couple had written suicide notes for their respective families besides a letter for the police. The latter read: 8220;Respected police inspector, we are dying of our accord and don8217;t hold anybody else responsible for our deaths8230; Our souls will be at peace if you dont harass our relatives.8221;

To their parents they wrote: 8220;We wanted to live like you. But since it was not possible, we are ending our lives.8221; They also gave a list of debts to be repaid and a blank cheque was left for debtors.

8220;This is a rare double-suicide I have come across in a long time. The victims8217; letter to the police states that they were totally helpless in the wake of Santosh8217;s kidney problem. Though both of them were highly educated, Snehalata had stated that she too has opted for death despite being medically normal as it would be difficult for her to survive alone in today8217;s tough world,8221; Shelar says.

The suicide was discovered by Snehalata8217;s brother, who had come to Gorai to pay the Sawants a visit early today. Snehalata had worn all her ornaments at the time of committing suicide. Police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.

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Principal of Mittal College, John D8217;Mello, said: 8220;Sawant had been looking increasingly weak in the last few months, and people used to say even earlier that he was planning to commit suicide.8221;

Vice-principal of the junior college section, where Sawant was teaching, Ragini Chavan, said: 8220;He had a health problem, but he was very regular at work. He was not only a good teacher, but also a good person.8221;