Bhubaneswar: An elderly couple were found hanging at their residence in Talabania police station limits of Puri city on Sunday.Anam Mishra (66) and his wife Sangita (60) were found hanging from ceiling fans in separate rooms at their residence in Senapati Bagicha.Their son claimed they died by suicide because of prolonged family disputes, even as the relatives blamed him for their distress because of his drug addiction.Police said preliminary inquiry suggests the couple had been under severe stress due to their 33-year-old son Anu Sangeet Mishra’s alleged substance abuse and financial dependence. “Our investigation and statements of the close family members indicate the couple was upset over their son’s addiction,” Puri superintendent of police Prateek Singh said.Relatives told police the parents had repeatedly tried to dissuade Anu, but he did not mend his ways. The police also learned the family was in financial distress, with Anu, who does not have any source of income, reportedly extracting large sums from his parents under the pretext of business ventures.Anu, however, denied the allegations. “I am not into drugs. My parents ended their lives because of prolonged family disputes. Some of our family members, who do not stay with us, have been harassing my father over financial matters,” he said, alleging foul play. “My parents were victims of black magic. Family members are blaming me to save themselves. Their roles must be investigated. Phones of my parents and relatives should be verified,” he said.According to him, he was asleep when the incident occurred. “When I woke up, I found my parents dead in separate rooms,” he claimed.
