The investigation into the deaths of four members of a family in Maharashtra’s Nanded district has revealed a tragic case of murder-suicide, allegedly driven by severe financial stress, police officials said on Saturday.
According to investigators, two brothers allegedly strangled their parents at home before taking their own lives by jumping in front of a moving train.
Bodies found at home and near railway station
The bodies of Ramesh Sonaji Lakhe (51) and his wife Radhabai Lakhe (45) were found lying on a cot inside their house in Jawala Murar village in Mudkhed taluk on Thursday morning. A few hours later, the bodies of their sons, Umesh (25) and Bajrang (23), were discovered on railway tracks near Mugat railway station, located a few kilometres from the village.
Police said the sequence of events initially raised suspicion, prompting a detailed forensic and circumstantial investigation.
Post-mortem confirms cause of deaths
Inspector Dattatray Manthale of Barad police station told investigators that post-mortem reports confirmed the parents died due to strangulation, while the sons died after being run over by a train.
“Our probe and post-mortem reports have confirmed that the two brothers strangled their parents while they were asleep and later died by suicide by jumping in front of a moving train,” the officer said.
Chronic illness and debt cited as trigger
Police said Ramesh Lakhe had been suffering from paralysis for a prolonged period and was chronically ill. The cost of treatment and loss of income had reportedly placed the family under intense financial strain.
Investigators believe this sustained pressure may have led to the extreme step, though they stressed that all angles are still being examined. Statements are being recorded, including from a shopkeeper who reportedly sold betel nut sachets to the brothers in the early hours of Thursday, shortly before they reached the railway tracks.
Case registered, probe continues
Police have registered a case of murder against the two brothers as part of legal procedure, even as the investigation continues to establish the full circumstances and timeline leading up to the tragedy.
Officials said the incident highlights the devastating impact untreated financial stress and health-related burdens can have on families, particularly in rural areas with limited access to support systems.
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