After Wife Elopes, Man Kills Two Kids, Hangs Self

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MUMBAI – Two days after his wifeeloped with their neighbour, a 48-yearoldrestaurant manager smothered hisdaughters, aged nine and five, andhanged himself in his Nalasopara homeon Tuesday. He had scribbled a messageon the wall blaming his wife for the step.Shreedhar Shetty was found hanging inhis bedroom when neighbours, suspiciousas milk and paper were lying at thedoor till night, peered through a partlyopenwindow. Police broke open thedoor and found Shraddha and Saidayalying dead in the bed.On the wall, Shetty had scribbled a Hindimessage in Roman alphabet, saying hetook the extreme step as his wife Sonali,32, had eloped with Tejas Doshi, 34,leaving behind the children.Police said Shetty, who worked as a managerin a restaurant in Vasai, allegedly hada fight with Sonali on Sunday after shetold him about the affair. Angry, Shettyasked her to leave the house. Sonali leftwith Tejas, but refused to take her daughtersalong.Shraddha was a Class IV student whileSaidaya was in nursery. The family hadcome to stay at Ganesh Complex, AcholeRoad, Nalasopara (east), a year ago. TheDoshis-Tejas, his parents and a youngerbrother-were among the neighbours andthe Shettys shared good relations withthem.Upset that Sonali had left him for anotherman, Shetty smothered the girls ataround 8pm on Tuesday, said the police.He scribbled on the wall before hanginghimself. No other suicide note was foundin the flat.Sonali and Tejas, who allegedly eloped onMonday, could not be contacted by thepolice as their cell phones were switchedoff. The cops are examining if abetmentof suicide charges (IPC 306) can bepressed. A case of murder (IPC 302) hasbeen registered against Shetty.The killings and suicide came to lightwhen a few neighbours went to inquireabout newspapers and milk packets lyingoutside the flat on Tuesday night. For thepast two days, neither the couple nor thechildren had been seen. Shetty had notgone to work, the girls had skippedschool and Sonali had not been spottedat the common tap. When the doorbellwent unanswered, neighbours peeped inthrough the sliding window of the bedroomthat was partly open and sawShetty hanging. They alerted the police.The Doshis said they were unaware oftheir son’s whereabouts.