A retired deputy engineer of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) and his wife tragically ended their lives at their residence on University Road late Saturday night. The couple, identified as Rajendra Lakhtariya, 70, and Panna Lakhtariya, 66, succumbed after allegedly consuming poison, police confirmed on Sunday.
The Fateful Night and Immediate Aftermath
The incident took place at the couple's home in Bheedbhanjan Society. After consuming the poison, their health began to deteriorate. It was at this point that they informed their daughter, who lives with them, about their condition. The daughter immediately sprang into action, alerting other relatives and calling for emergency medical services.
Both individuals were rushed to a nearby private hospital, where the case was officially recorded as a medico-legal matter. Despite medical efforts, Rajendra Lakhtariya passed away around 6 am on Sunday. His wife, Panna, died nearly two hours later, marking a devastating end to the incident.
Content with Life, Tormented by Health: The Suicide Note
Police from the University police station recovered a suicide note from the house. Police inspector Hareshkumar Patel stated that the note provided crucial insight into the couple's mindset. According to the note, the Lakhtariyas were content with their family life and had no financial burdens. They also felt well cared for by their children.
However, the note highlighted a different kind of struggle. It explicitly mentioned that both Rajendra and Panna were suffering from severe and prolonged health issues. It was this suffering, the note indicated, that led them to take the extreme step of ending their lives together.
Family Details and Ongoing Investigation
Preliminary police investigations revealed that Rajendra Lakhtariya had voluntarily resigned from the RMC a few months before his scheduled retirement. The couple is survived by their two children: a son who works for a private company, and a daughter who, following a divorce, resided with her parents along with her child.
The University Police have registered an accidental death case and are conducting further investigations into the matter. The police have stated that the primary evidence, the suicide note, clearly points to prolonged illness as the motivating factor, with no apparent signs of foul play or external pressure.
