Debt burden drives Indian family to suicide—police

The bodies of 38 year old Indian woman Alka (L), her son Yash (2L) 13, daughters Krishna 17 (2R) and Pinkle 16 are draped in flowers near their house before being taken to a crematorium in the village of Bavla around 30 kms from Ahmedabad on June 3, 2013, after they committed suicide in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Five-members of an Indian family committed suicide by drinking poison, police said adding that one member survived, but is in a serious condition and undergoing treatment at a hospital. A preliminary probe to find the cause of the family suicide revealed that the family was allegedly under pressure from money lenders. AFP PHOTO/ Sam PANTHAKY

AHMEDABAD, India — Four members of an Indian family mired in debt and under pressure from local money lenders to repay loans committed suicide in the western state of Gujarat, police said Monday.

A married couple and three of their children consumed poison on Sunday at their home in Bavla town, 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Gujarat’s main city and commercial hub Ahmedabad.

“A woman and three children died immediately and the man was rushed to the hospital. He is still undergoing treatment,” police officer A.Y. Bhaloch told AFP.

The couple were deeply in debt and lived on a small monthly income. According to police they had taken loans from several money lenders at very high interest rates to set up a business.

However when they were unable to repay 600,000 rupees ($10,000) the money lenders started harassing the couple.

The news of family suicide shocked the residents of Bavla, many of whom closed their businesses to mourn the deaths.

Police have registered a criminal case against six money lenders for abetting suicide.

More than half of India’s 1.2 billion population is forced to turn to unscrupulous money lenders who charge exorbitant interest rates because many towns and villages have little access to banks.