Distraught over mother’s death, man hangs self

Affection for his mother drove a 34-year-old man, unable to bear her loss to cancer, to take his life.

The incident took place at a house on Pulavar Pugazhendi Nagar 1 Street in MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, where Sasikumar, a construction worker, was residing with his mother Kasturi (65) and his younger sister.

Arumbakkam police sources said, Kasturi and husband Velayutham had five children and Sasikumar was the third. Velayutham died 12 years ago.

Sasikumar and his family had rented out two portions in the building to some shops. He occasionally took up assignments at construction sites.

Last year, Kasturi was diagnosed with cancer and was admitted to a hospital for treatment. Recently, after doctors told Sasikumar that her tumour was incurable, she was brought to her home.

“Sasikumar was very upset over her condition. He often told his immediate family and relatives that he would commit suicide if his mother passed away,” said an officer with the Arumbakkam police.

Around 9.30 p.m. on Friday, Kasturi breathed her last. Her children and other relatives arrived, placed her body outside the house and were making preparations for the last rites. An inconsolable Sasikumar sat next to her body, crying till around 2 a.m. on Saturday.

“Around 2.30 a.m., his brothers realised Sasikumar had been missing for a while and frantically searched for him. Some of his relatives, who went to the terrace where his room was located, found him hanging from a ceiling fan by his mother’s saree,” said the officer.

Family members rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him ‘dead on arrival.’ Arumbakkam police was alerted and they later sent his body for a post-mortem examination to the Government Kilpauk hospital.

Sasikumar was cremated along with his mother on Saturday evening, police sources said.