Hyderabad: A 50-year-old priest working at a temple in Bowenpally allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his home on Wednesday. Police said that Venkatramana Murthy, hailing from Kuchipudi, took this step as he was depressed with his ill health and financial problems. He left a suicide note saying that his income was not sufficient to maintain his family and meet medical expenses.
Police said P. Venkataramana Murthy migrated from his native place and settled in the city nearly 15 years ago along with his wife, a private school teacher and two children.
They were staying at a rented flat in Mallikarjuna colony. He was working as a priest at a nearby temple and was also performing poojas in the surroundings. The family also rented out the penthouse in the same building.
Nearly 10 years ago he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. Since then he was on medication. He recovered and was normal for two years but later his health worsened. He continued treatment but there was no result and he became depressed.
Murthy, in his suicide note, stated that his earnings as a priest were not sufficient to run the family and meet his medical needs. Due to the deteriorating health he could not perform Poojas outside the temple.
“I am depressed with my health and finances. It's six years since I had a peaceful sleep. Every day my health is becoming worse and I have developed migraine also,” Mr Murthy said in the suicide note.
On Wednesday while his wife and children were on the ground floor of their house he went to the penthouse. “He hanged himself using a jute rope to an iron rod fixed to the roof,” Bowenpally SI B. Srinivas said. Based on a complaint from his wife P. Shylaja a case of suspicious death was registered.
