Jobless Father Kills 1-Year-Old Child, Strangles Wife Before Hanging Self

In a shocking incident, a man in India killed his wife and 1-year-old child before ending his own life. Police said the man was frustrated after losing his job amid the COVID-19 pandemic that gripped the country.

Hemant Shinde, 38, was working as a truck driver in the western Indian city of Pune and he recently lost his job. On Sunday, Shinde strangled his wife to death and later slit his son's throat. He then hanged himself, police said, the Indian Express reported.

The couple also had an elder daughter. It remains unclear where his other child was when the incident happened.

Senior inspector Rajendra Mokashi told the Times of India that Shinde's brother, who was living in the same house, had gone out for work and his two kids were watching TV when the incident took place. His parents were in another room at the time.

"Shinde has not left a suicide note. Daryappa [father of Shinde] told is Pradnya [Shinde's wife] often quarreled with Hemant as he wasn't going to work," Mokashi said.

Shinde's father said his son was upset as he could not repay a loan taken from another person.

Earlier this month, a 33-year-old man killed his wife and 13-month-old son before taking his own life in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. The double-murder suicide took place following a domestic dispute. On the day of the incident, the feud between the husband and wife escalated and the couple got into a verbal spat.

"It appears that by evening, Giriraj lost his temper and first strangulated his wife. He thereafter slit the neck of his 13-month-old son. To repent, he hanged himself from the ceiling fan," police said.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.