Malkangiri: A woman allegedly poisoned her two children and later committed suicide by consuming poison Saturday evening. Apparently, the woman had lost her mental equilibrium following the death of her husband and the only breadwinner of the family residing at Goudaguda in Malkangiri district.
The deceased, identified as Sita Madkami, was the wife of late Muka Madkami who had died two months back. However, timely intervention helped save the lives of the two children Debendra Madkami, 8, and Dharitri Madkami, 5, while the woman died at the district headquarters hospital.
The incident has spread shockwaves in the area. According to sources, Muka Madkami died of tuberculosis after suffering from protracted illness for a long period. His wife Sita tried her best to get him treated but in vain as Muka died leaving behind his wife and children.
Sita was crestfallen following the death of her husband. She was pushed into distress of earning her livelihood and bringing up her three children and ultimately she took the extreme step, recounted her father-in-law Sana Madkami, neighbours Jara Sabar Madi and Sanjay Sunani.
In a state of frustration, she mixed poison in the food which she fed her son and daughter and consumed the same herself a little later.
Her relatives spotted them lying unconscious and rushed them to the Malkangiri headquarters hospital with the help of an ASHA worker.
However, she died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. The condition of the two children has improved after treatment, said the doctors at the hospital. On being informed, Malkangiri police led by IIC Ranjan Kumar Sahu reached the hospital and launched an investigation into the incident.
A case of murder was registered in the name of the deceased woman while her body was sent for post-mortem.
Block Development Officer Gunanidhi Nayak enquired about the health of the ailing children at the hospital and talked to the local residents. He said Sita’s father-in-law had received a house under the Awas Yojana while her family had been given a ration card. He also gave away Rs 2,000 under Harishchandra Yojana for cremation of the body and assured all assistance for rehabilitation and education of the children after discussing with the Childline authorities.
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