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Indian HIV parents kill children | Indian HIV parents kill children |
(3 days later) | |
An Indian couple who were infected with the virus that can lead to Aids have committed suicide after killing their three children, police in Mumbai say. | |
Relatives say the couple had been depressed by news that their daughter also had the HIV virus. | Relatives say the couple had been depressed by news that their daughter also had the HIV virus. |
Police say the parents hanged themselves after poisoning their children, aged between five and 10. | Police say the parents hanged themselves after poisoning their children, aged between five and 10. |
India has one of the largest numbers of HIV-positive people in the world and they suffer serious social stigma. | India has one of the largest numbers of HIV-positive people in the world and they suffer serious social stigma. |
'Smothered' | 'Smothered' |
Police say Babu Ishwar Thevar, 39, and his wife Amori, 33, killed themselves and their children on 5 August. | Police say Babu Ishwar Thevar, 39, and his wife Amori, 33, killed themselves and their children on 5 August. |
Babu Thevar's brother, Armugam, found the bodies when he went to the house late that night after work. | Babu Thevar's brother, Armugam, found the bodies when he went to the house late that night after work. |
The couple had two sons - Venkatesan, 10, and Mani, eight - as well as a daughter, Mahalakshmi, who was five. | The couple had two sons - Venkatesan, 10, and Mani, eight - as well as a daughter, Mahalakshmi, who was five. |
The girl survived being poisoned but police believe she was smothered by a pillow until she stopped breathing. | The girl survived being poisoned but police believe she was smothered by a pillow until she stopped breathing. |
The officer who is investigating the case told the BBC the couple then hanged themselves from the ceiling by a nylon rope. | The officer who is investigating the case told the BBC the couple then hanged themselves from the ceiling by a nylon rope. |
Mr Thevar told the police that his brother was worried about the infection and had become depressed after finding out that his daughter also had the infection. | Mr Thevar told the police that his brother was worried about the infection and had become depressed after finding out that his daughter also had the infection. |
The couple did not leave a suicide note. | The couple did not leave a suicide note. |
Police say they probably ended their children's lives thinking medication could not prevent the virus from affecting their daughter. | Police say they probably ended their children's lives thinking medication could not prevent the virus from affecting their daughter. |
Financial motives have been ruled out as Mr Thevar was doing well in his work as a Tamil film distributor. | Financial motives have been ruled out as Mr Thevar was doing well in his work as a Tamil film distributor. |
'Lack of awareness' | 'Lack of awareness' |
The Tevars had not disclosed their medical status to their neighbours and relatives, and Mr Tevar's brother says he is the only one who knew about it. | The Tevars had not disclosed their medical status to their neighbours and relatives, and Mr Tevar's brother says he is the only one who knew about it. |
Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is capital, is one six Indian states where the prevalence of HIV/Aids is "high", according to the country's National Aids Control Organisation. | Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is capital, is one six Indian states where the prevalence of HIV/Aids is "high", according to the country's National Aids Control Organisation. |
Activists say that due to lack of awareness, the HIV virus is often passed on to children. Social stigma is a major reason cited for people not seeking medical treatment. | Activists say that due to lack of awareness, the HIV virus is often passed on to children. Social stigma is a major reason cited for people not seeking medical treatment. |
Campaigners say many HIV-related suicides could be prevented by providing counselling. | Campaigners say many HIV-related suicides could be prevented by providing counselling. |
Even though the Indian government offers free tests and cheap drugs, the number of HIV-infected patients in the country remains one of the highest in the world. | Even though the Indian government offers free tests and cheap drugs, the number of HIV-infected patients in the country remains one of the highest in the world. |
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