Chennai: A 35-year-old man killed his two daughters, aged seven and four years, by feeding them poison-laced idlis, and then unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide at a guesthouse in Mamallapuram on Friday. He is in critical condition at a govt hospital in Chengalpet.Police said Pradeep of Kolathur had been separated from his wife, Preethi, for two months following marital disputes. The couple’s daughters, Liya and Shubiksha, stayed with him. A complaint filed at the Puzhal police station regarding the matrimonial dispute was under investigation.On Feb 9, Pradeep checked into a guesthouse in Mamallapuram with his two daughters. Over the next few days, he took them to the beach every morning and evening. On Friday evening, the three returned to their room and did not come out thereafter.As the room remained locked from the inside till 1.30pm on Saturday, the guesthouse staff grew suspicious. As their door knocks did not receive any response, they alerted the Mamallapuram police.Police broke open the door and found both the children dead. Pradeep was found unconscious in critical condition. They also found poison-laced in idlis that had been fed to the children. Mamallapuram police rushed Pradeep to the govt hospital. The bodies of the two children were sent for postmortem examination. Police registered a case and are investigating.(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TN’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
