Man kills children before attempting suicide

MUZAFFARNAGAR - Depressed over strained relations with his wife who had killed herself earlier, a man poisoned his four minor children before attempting suicide here Friday, police said.

Vijay Pal, 38, a resident of Rampuri village, consumed a poisonous substance after administering it to his two daughters and two sons — aged between 4-11 years.

While the children died on the spot, Pal is battling for his life in a hospital.

“We have recovered a suicide note from Pal, in which he stated that he was in depression owing to his wife’s illicit relationship and therefore, was taking the extreme step,” a police official said in Muzaffarnagar, some 350 km from Lucknow.

“As Pal suspected that his wife had an illicit relationship, he had a verbal duel with her seven days ago. After the heated exchange of words, Pal’s wife had committed suicide,” he added.