Brothers take cyanide-laced liquor over domestic issues

The deceased persons were identified as Balraj, 35, a construction labourer, and his brother Vijayaraj, 32, a goldsmith from the Housing Unit in Selvapuram area.

While Balraj is survived by his wife, son and a daughter, his brother was unmarried and was living with him.

Police said Balraj had visited the workshop of his brother at Big Bazaar Street on Wednesday night.

“They had a long chat when Vijayaraj apparently expressed his anguish over the delay in his marriage and blamed his brother for spending all his earnings on liquor,” police said.

On Thursday morning, when other workers visited the smithery, they found the doors open and the brothers lying dead. On receiving information, the Big Bazaar police visited the spot and found a liquor bottle and cyanide used for making jewels.

“As the duo consumed liquor by mixing cyanide, their bodies turned blue. They took the extreme step due to family problems,” police said. The bodies have been sent to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.

The Big Bazaar police have registered a case and further investigations are under way.