A poverty-stricken mother killed her two children, aged 2 and 4, by mixing poison in their food, and attempted suicide later.
Chennai: On May 21, Shailaja, a 29-year-old woman attempted suicide after killing her two children by mixing poison in their food at her residence in Maduravoyal.
According to police, Shailaja killed her daughter Sri Lakshmi (4) and son Adhiseshan (2) by poisoning their food after which she too consumed poison but was rescued. Shailaja was taken to hospital is reportedly is out of danger.
Shailaja’s husband, Shibi Raj (38) was a movie producer. Raj died two months ago of renal failure. As Shibi Raj was the sole breadwinner of the family, Shailaja ran into debt.
Police became aware of the incident after Shailaja’s friend Junaid visited the family on the morning of May 22. When nobody opened the door, he peered through the window and saw the children and Shailaja lying only the floor. With the help of neighbours, he broke open the door. All three were rushed to Kilpauk Government Hospital. The children were pronounced dead on arrival and their bodies were sent for post-mortem. Shailaja survived and is undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.
Maduravoyal Police have registered a case and charged Shailaja with murder.
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