Cancer-affected boy, parents end life

Chennai: Unable to come to terms with their only son’s losing fight against cancer, a couple along with their son, a B.Tech graduate, entered into a suicide pact. The three of them hanged themselves at their residence in Perambur on Friday night.

The deceased have been identified as S. Kamalakannan, 54, his wife, K. Gowri, 48, and their son, K. Satishkumar, 24. They lived at Gopal Naicker Street in Perambur.

Police said that Satishkumar was diagnosed with bone cancer a couple of years ago and despite treatment, doctors had told the family that Satishkumar will not live. Kamalakannan owned a fruit juice shop at Palani Andavar Koil Street in Perambur and had spent all he had on Satishkumar’s treatment.

The incident came to light only on Saturday morning when Kamalakannan’s brother, Ramakrishnan visited the house.

He knocked at the door several times but when he received no response, he got worried.

Sembium police were informed and the door was broke open. While the boy was found hanging in the hall, the couple was found hanging in the bedroom, police said.

Police recovered the bodies and moved them to the Government Stanley Hospital for autopsy.

Investigations said that the boy suffered from severe pain in his shoulders over the past few days and spent sleepless nights screaming in pain.

It was such a night on Friday that the family decided to end their lives, police said.

“The woman also had health issues and she suffered from stomach pain. We have recovered a suicide note from the house in which the family claims no one is responsible for their decision,” said Sembium inspector K.R. Ukkirapandi. After graduation, the boy worked for two months, but his fragile health condition didn’t allow him to continue, the inspector said.