Cops say Vasai couple believed their illnesses were causing distress to their children; husband is undergoing treatment at hospital
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An 82-year-old senior citizen allegedly slit his wife’s throat and then attempted to take his own life, believing that their illnesses were causing distress to their children and preventing them from living peacefully.
The incident took place on Saturday night in Karadiwadi, in Vasai West. Police have identified the deceased as Arpina Gabriel Pereira, 74, and the husband as Gabriel Francis Pereira, 82. According to police sources, Gabriel allegedly slit his wife’s throat with a kitchen knife and then attempted to take his own life by trying to slit his throat, hand, and abdomen.
Police sources said the couple lived with their 51-year-old son, Bruno, his wife, and their children. Police said that on Saturday evening, Bruno, his wife, and daughter had gone to visit a relative. When they returned around 11 pm, Bruno found his mother lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom and his father gravely injured. Both were rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared Arpina dead, while Gabriel was admitted for further treatment.
During interrogation, Bruno told police that his parents, both senior citizens, had been suffering from serious ailments. Arpina, who had asthma and difficulty walking, was confined to a wheelchair, while Gabriel was also battling a critical illness. Family members suspect that the prolonged illness and depression over their condition may have driven Gabriel to commit the act.
When the son and daughter-in-law stepped out, the elderly couple decided to end their lives, believing that their illnesses were causing distress to their children and preventing them from living peacefully, said an officer from Vasai police station.
After receiving the information, senior officials, including ACP Navnath Ghogare, senior inspector Jagdish Ghadigaonkar, and other police teams reached the incident spot, conducted the panchnama, and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Gabriel is undergoing treatment, and his condition is said to be stable.
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