In a heart-wrenching incident, four members of a family were found dead in a village in Maharashtra's Nanded district on Thursday morning. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the small community of Jawala Murar village in Mudkhed taluka, located approximately 275 kilometres from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
A Grim Discovery and Suspected Pact
The police made the grim discovery on the morning of Thursday. The bodies of Ramesh Lakhe (51) and his wife Radhabai (44) were found hanging from the ceiling inside their modest home. In a parallel and equally tragic incident, their two adult sons, Umesh (25) and Bajrang (22), were found dead on a railway track near Moogat station. Preliminary investigations strongly point towards a coordinated suicide pact undertaken by the entire family.
Nanded Superintendent of Police, Abinash Kumar, stated that the primary motives appear to be severe financial hardship compounded by the father's longstanding health issues. The police have registered a case of accidental death, but are awaiting postmortem reports and conducting a detailed probe to confirm the sequence of events and the exact reasons behind this extreme step.
Financial Strain and Health Battles
Investigations have painted a picture of a family under immense pressure. SP Abinash Kumar revealed that the Lakhe family's financial condition was precarious. They resided in a kutcha house measuring about 25 by 50 feet. While the family owned some agricultural land, it had remained uncultivated, depriving them of a steady income source.
Adding to their woes was the poor health of the family head, Ramesh Lakhe. He had a 30-year history of heart ailments and had undergone a bypass surgery at a relatively young age. His health had deteriorated further a few months ago, leading to another costly hospitalisation at a private facility. This medical expenditure reportedly placed a heavy burden on the family's fragile finances.
Profiles of the Deceased and Police Investigation
The elder son, Umesh Lakhe, was known in the area for his past political involvement, having served as the taluka vice-president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). To support his family, he was working at a local shop. His younger brother, Bajrang, was unemployed at the time of the incident.
Neighbours and local residents have expressed shock at the tragedy. The Nanded police have launched a comprehensive investigation. Forensic teams and dog squads meticulously examined the family's home and the section of the railway track where the sons' bodies were recovered. Officers have also been speaking extensively with neighbours to piece together the final days of the Lakhe family and understand the full depth of their struggles.
This devastating event highlights the extreme desperation that can arise from a combination of financial instability and health crises, leading to unthinkable outcomes. The community of Mudkhed taluka is now left mourning the loss of an entire family.
