28-06-2025
Unable to repay loan, Gujarat electrician strangles wife, daughter, before killing self
A 32-year-old electrician, who was neck-deep in financial crisis, allegedly strangled his wife and daughter and died by suicide in Gujarat's Tapi district on Thursday night, the police said. Before the incident, the accused had posted a message on social media saying that if he survived, he would repay all those who had helped him.
According to Tapi police, the deceased man, Jatin Patel, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community, was working under contract at the Valjakhan village office in Dolvan taluka.
The other deceased are Sulochanaben, 24, and daughter, Mishwakumari, 7.
The police said that Patel had allegedly taken loans from banks, friends, and private individuals.
The bodies were first found by Patel's mother Neetaben, who lives in the neighbourhood, the next day, the police said.
According to the police, every morning, Mishwakumari gets ready for school and goes to her grandmother, who would drop her off at school.
'On Friday morning, when Mishwakumari did not turn up, Neetaben reached Jatin's house and found Sulochana and Mishwakumari lying dead on the bed, and her son Jatin's body nearby,' said an officer.
Neetaben immediately called up village sarpanch, Harish Gamit, who later alerted the Dolvan police.
After primary investigations, Dolvan Police Inspector H G Rabari said, 'We have come to know that Jatin had taken loans from multiple banks, and was unable to repay the installments. The motive behind the crime is still not known. He was working as an electrician and had a monthly income of Rs 15,000.'
