DIJKOT:
A devastating tragedy unfolded in the Dijkot area where a financially distressed man took the lives of his wife and three daughters, employing a lethal combination of poisoning and fatal blows with a hammer before ending his own life by consuming poisonous pills.
The police have secured the bodies and initiated an investigation, while the entire community grapples with shock and terror.
The incident occurred in Chak 271, RB, within the jurisdiction of the Dijkot police station.
Mohammad Tahir, 55, succumbed to the burdens of poverty.
In a horrifying turn of events, he administered a drug-laced meal to his 45-year-old wife Naheed Akhtar and three daughters Zehra Fatima, 12, Hiba Tahir, 17 and Raisa Tahir, 19, rendering them unconscious.
Taking a hammer to their heads, Tahir brutally ended their lives. In a final act of despair, he ingested pills hidden within a batch of wheat. The tragedy unfolded in darkness and by dawn, Tahir changed into fresh clothes and sought solace in the company of worshipers at the local mosque.
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There, he narrated the gruesome incident before being transported to Dijkot and subsequently to Civil Hospital Faisalabad, where he eventually succumbed.
Upon receiving information from the village Numberdar, the Dijkot police, led by SP Iqbal Town Usman Saifi, DSP Factory Area Rana Ataur Rehman, and SHO Dijkot Moazzam Gujjar, reached the scene at 8am.
The Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) teams also arrived, transferring all five bodies to the hospital for post-mortem examinations and collecting crucial evidence.
Tahir, who worked in the field of medicines, left behind a heart-wrenching will obtained by The Express Tribune.
In the document, he cited his incapacitation to provide for his family due to financial struggles and debts.
Tahir’s distress pushed him to make the agonising decision to end the lives of his wife and daughters before taking his own.
The Express Tribune learnt that Tahir took this extreme step independently, emphasising that no one else was involved in the tragic decision. In the will, he acknowledged the significant burden he was leaving for his brothers and sisters.
Also read: Man commits suicide after killing 4 children
In his letter, he urged the sale of his house and specified individual amounts for his brothers —Shahid Khan, Rana Mahmood and Shoaib Asghar — to contribute towards settling the debts.
Tahir, in a poignant request, urged his brothers to ensure the well-being of his two daughters and prevent them from leaving the house.
DSP Factory Area, Rana Ataur Rehman, revealed that Tahir had previously lost his nine-year-old son in a tragic accident three months ago. Since the fatal incident, Tahir had been battling depression, worsened by the family’s financial struggles, as noted in his will. City Police Officer Captain (retd) Mohammad Ali Zia has taken cognizance of the matter, demanding a detailed report from SP Iqbal Town.
CPO Zia reached the home of the person who committed suicide after killing his wife and children in Dijkot. He expressed condolences and deep sorrow to the affected family members.
“When I learned of this tragic incident, I left my office duties and went to the unfortunate family’s home to offer condolences and share the grief,” the CPO said.
On this occasion, Additional SP Investigation, Captain (retd) Muhammad Ajmal, SP Iqbal Town Division, Usman Munir Saifi and other officers were also present, expressing condolences and deep sorrow to the grieving family members.
Financial stress and depression is one of the major causes of suicides in Punjab. In January, a woman who, along with her children, had been afflicted by extreme poverty and starvation set herself and two of her children on fire.
