The deceased lived with his wife Bharathi (26). The couple got married 10 years ago and had four children — one boy and three girls.
Published Aug 05, 2025 | 7:43 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2025 | 8:15 PM
Govindaraj. (Supplied)
Synopsis: According to reports, the man was facing harassment over mounting debts. The man had borrowed ₹13 lakh from a private bank, apart from loans from women self-help groups and other money lenders, and was forced to repay around ₹48,000 monthly as interest and principal. Initial inquiries revealed that Govindaraj had debts due to house repair expenses and purchase of a rickshaw. With no steady income, he was under severe stress.
In a shocking incident near Rasipuram in Namakkal district, a man allegedly murdered his three young daughters and later died by suicide, allegedly due to harassment over mounting debts.
The accused identified as Govindaraj (36) from Veembakkavundanur near Mangalam, reportedly slit the throats of his daughters – Pranithitha (10), Rithika Sri (9), and Deva Sri (6)– before consuming poison.
The deceased lived with his wife Bharathi (26). The couple got married 10 years ago and had four children — one boy and three girls.
Mangalam police have registered a case and are investigating whether debt harassment was the sole reason or if there were any other issues behind the tragedy.
On the day of the incident, as usual, Govindaraj had dinner with his children. Later, his wife Bharathi went to bed along with their one-year-old son Aneeswaran, while Govindaraj locked the bedroom from outside and stayed in the hall.
Around 3 a.m., Govindaraj took a sickle and brutally attacked his three daughters — who were asleep in the hall — by slashing their necks and killing them on the spot. He reportedly told his wife that he was going to end his life and asked her not to come out of the room. He then drank pesticide and, in a drunken and disturbed state, killed his three daughters.
Hearing the children’s cries, his wife Bharathi tried to come out but was locked inside. She raised an alarm, and with the help of neighbors, informed the Mangalam police.
Police rushed to the spot, retrieved the bodies of Govindaraj and the three girls, and sent them to Namakkal Government Hospital for post-mortem.
According to reports, the man was facing harassment over mounting debts. The man had borrowed ₹13 lakh from a private bank, apart from loans from women self-help groups and other money lenders, and was forced to repay around ₹48,000 monthly as interest and principal. Initial inquiries revealed that Govindaraj had debts due to house repair expenses and purchase of a rickshaw. With no steady income, he was under severe stress.
His brother said that Govindaraj had recently returned from Kerala after doing coolie work, as the rickshaw season had ended. He earned very little and was worried about clearing the huge debts.
He even told his mother that he would sell his land to settle the loans, but she refused, saying the land should not be sold. Upset and heartbroken, Govindaraj allegedly drank heavily that night.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
(If you need support or know someone who has suicidal thoughts, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist or contact the helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families. Tele-MANAS: 14416; Life Suicide Prevention: 7893078930; Arogya Vani: 104; Sahay Helpline: 080-25497777; Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584.)
