Mumbai woman battling depression strangles mentally challenged sons, hangs herself

The police have also recovered a one-page suicide note in which Archana mentioned that she had been battling depression for several years owing to the mental condition of her sons.

A 32-year-old woman allegedly killed her twin sons, who were mentally challenged, and later committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan at her home at Kalwa in Thane on Saturday.

Seven-year-old Sarthak and Varad. (Ht File)

Archana Kadam’s 35-year-old husband, Sandeep, was at work when she allegedly killed seven-year-old Sarthak and Varad. The police suspect that they were strangled. Her husband works in a logistics company.

The police have also recovered a one-page suicide note in which Archana mentioned that she had been battling depression for several years owing to the mental condition of her sons. She addressed the letter to Sandeep, hoping that he would understand her predicament on why she had taken such an extreme step.The incident came to light

The incident came to light in the evening when Sandeep returned from office and found his sons unconscious on the floor and Archana hanging from the ceiling fan.

M Bagwan, senior police inspector from Kalwa police station said, “We suspect that Archana could not come to terms with her sons’ disability, which may have triggered her depression. We have not found any external injuries on the boys. We have sent the bodies for post-mortem to know the exact cause of death.”

“We suspect that Archana strangled her children. After writing the suicide note, she committed suicide. We are waiting for the post mortem reports,” said an officer from Kalwa police station. The police have lodged a case against Archana under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC, said the officer.