Couple ends life over loan

Govindaraj, 60, of Kannadipalayam near Anthiyur in the district and his wife Madeshwari, 50, had borrowed Rs 3.5 lakh from a private finance firm pledging their property documents, according to police. Govindaraj is into furniture repair work and has a son and a daughter, both married.

“Over the past year, Govindaraj managed to pay the interest amount. However, he couldn’t pay it in the last few months,” police said. The staff of the firm repeatedly abused the couple over the non-payment of interest. They had also threatened to recover the amount using the property documents.

Depressed over this, Govindaraj and Madeshwari consumed farm pesticide at their furniture workshop on Tuesday evening. In a suicide note, the couple blamed the firm for their extreme step. Their family members, who spotted them battling for life, admitted them in the Erode Government Hospital. However, they died.