A 36-year-old man in Vile Parle (West) killed his six-year-old daughter and then died by suicide Sunday. Jitendra Bhadekar, 36, had slipped into depression following his wife’s death last year due to Covid-19. His relatives said they had no inclination that he would take such a drastic step. Bhadekar used to work in the back office of a diamond company.
According to Santa Cruz police, the incident took place on Sunday evening in their apartment, on the second floor of D’Souza building, in Gaothan area of Vile Parle (west).
In a suicide note addressed to his mother, Bhadekar said he tried a lot to live but was unable to do so. In the note, he mentioned he could not leave his daughter behind and was taking her with him. The note also contained his apology and requested his family to complete the last rites at the same spot where his wife was cremated.
In June 2020 Bhadekar’s wife Madhavi, 32, a homemaker, had died due to Covid-19 at their Charkop residence and since then he slipped into depression. His family, however, got him remarried in December 2020. He was living with his wife, child, his brothers and his mother.
His brothers told the police that Bhadekar did not show any signs of depression lately and went to work regularly. They could not predict he could take such a drastic step.
Bhadekar left his Charkop home with his daughter telling his family they had plans of shifting to their Vile Parle apartment as the tenants had left and it was locked for a few months.
On Sunday evening at around 5.30 pm the family called him to find out when he was coming back. When he did not answer their calls, his brother called up a neighbour at around 7.30 pm to check on them.
The neighbour found the door locked from the inside and informed the brother. The family then rushed to the spot and broke open the door to find them dead. Dyaneshwar Ganore, senior police inspector Santa Cruz police station, confirmed the developments.
Psychiatrist, Dr Harish Shetty told The Indian Express: “Grief during the pandemic is massive as there is isolation due to restrictions. Yet, every family should realise that sharing tears is healthy to resolve the pain. Many hide the turmoil with the false belief that it may hurt others. This is dangerous. Family that cries together heals together.
“There are 75,000 dead in the state due to the pandemic. The state needs to have a plan for reaching out to every aggrieved family. If you have a task force to check physical health why ignore mental health. For treating depression please avoid inquisitive relatives and self-appointed Sherlock Holmes,” added Shetty.