A Nepalese national employed as a watchman at a government school in Chintadripet allegedly murdered his nine-year-old daughter on the school premises due to a family dispute and suspicions about his wife. He reportedly showed the act to his wife, who was in Nepal, through a video call before taking his own life.

The deceased has been identified as Laxman Prasad, 40, who worked as a watchman at Kalyanam Government Higher Secondary School in Chintadripet. His daughter, Geetha was in Class IV at the same school. According to the police, Laxman Prasad frequently quarrelled with his wife due to suspicions about her, leading to persistent family disputes. Distressed by the situation, his wife reportedly returned to Nepal with their other daughter. Following this, Laxman Prasad had been living on the school campus with Geetha.

The police said that on the night of the incident, following an argument with his wife, Laxman Prasad took Geetha to the second floor of the school building and video called his wife. He then killed his daughter hanging, following which he attempted to end his own life. At that time, Vani, a school staff member who had come to the second floor, saw the father and daughter and raised an alarm, prompting other school employees to rush to the spot. By the time help arrived, Laxman Prasad was in critical condition, but Geetha had already died.

Upon receiving information, the Chintadripet police rushed to the school and sent Geetha’s body to the Government Omandurar Hospital for a post-mortem. Laxman Prasad was also admitted to the same hospital. He died of his injuries on Tuesday. Preliminary investigations revealed that prolonged family disputes, his wife’s separation from him, and suspicions about her were among the factors that allegedly led to the incident. The police are continuing their investigation.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)