“He was frustrated all the time. He had to take care of the house chores, and tend to both his ailing wife and mentally challenged daughter at the age of 89. His body was giving up and he didn’t know what to do,” said the neighbours of Purshottam Singh Gandhok, who killed his wife and daughter on Sunday. He wanted to end his life, too, but could not muster the courage.
Gandhok, who had fought in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, left the Army in 1976 after sustaining a bullet injury in his leg. He started driving a car in Mumbai, and later, started a small shop, said police. He had to shut his shop down, and was jobless. He had been taking care of both his wife Jasbir Kaur and younger daughter Kamaljeet Kaur, 51, for the past 20 years. Late Sunday night, Gandhok killed his bedridden wife and mentally challenged daughter with the kitchen knife, police said. He spent hours crying, thinking of taking his life, too, but couldn’t do it. He finally called his older daughter and the police were called.

Senior Inspector Ravindra Kudapkar of Meghwadi police station told mid-day, “The incident occurred between 8.30 pm on Sunday and 11.30 am on Monday. Gandhok told us that his wife was in extreme pain, as both her legs were paralysed and she was bedridden. He had to clean the house, cook and take care of both his wife and daughter. This had become a burden to him. At the age of 89, he used to do everything all alone. Kamaljeet was born with mental illness, and she would fight with him often. Gandhok also told us that he was tired of cleaning his wife’s urine and stools in bed. He was also worried about who would look after them if he dies. From what Gandhok told us, his frustration levels were high, and because of this he killed them.”

“Gandhok told us that he gave food to his wife and daughter at 8.30 pm and put them to sleep early. Once they were asleep, he first slit his wife’s throat and then his daughter’s. Both died on the spot. He didn’t inform anyone till morning, when he called his older daughter Guruvindkaur Rajbans Anand, 58,” Kudapkar said.

Police sources that when Guruvindkaur’s son Jay Anand arrived at his home, he told him: ‘Mujhe maaf kar dena. Maine dono ko maar diya. Mujhse ye sab kaam aur nahi ho raha tha. Ye dono bahut dukh mein they and inko maar ke maine inka dukh dur kar diya. (Please forgive me, I have killed them both. I was unable to take care of everything any more. They were both unhappy and I have taken away their unhappiness by ending their lives.)’

Two residents of Prem Sandesh Society at Sher-e-Punjab Colony in Andheri East, where Gandhok lived, told mid-day that he was facing hardships as he had to look after everything at home.

“Gandhok and his family shifted to our society just about 12-15 days back. We would hear someone or the other crying daily. His wife was in too much pain and his daughter would fight with him a lot. How could he have handled both of them at the age of 89 and also clean the house, cook and do other chores?” said a neighbour.

“He was just living as a caretaker. Once we visited his house and found it to be a mess. It was too dirty and unlivable. A few days back, Gandhok met us outside his house and he told us that he is extremely frustrated with his wife and daughter. He said that his body was not supporting him any more in cleaning, cooking and looking after them. We suggested that he speak with his son and the other daughter for help. He said that his married daughter was helping him financially, but it was impossible for him to survive in this condition,” he added.

Kudapkar said, “Gandhok’s daughter had hired a male caretaker, but he left the job in just two days. We will call this caretaker for questioning. We will take more statements of the family and others. We haven’t found the knife used in the killing yet. We will check the house.”