Ex-soldier apologised to wife and daughter before killing them

Purshottam Singh Gandhok

Purshottam Singh Gandhok, 89, fed his bedridden wife and mentally ill daughter, gave them medicines and even apologised to them as they went to sleep, said police. Once they were asleep, he slit both their throats with a kitchen knife, and wanted to take his own life, but couldn't do it, they added. "Gandhok told his wife and daughter that he was tired of helping them and that his body was not supporting him due to old age and he couldn't do this any more," the investigating officer told mid-day.

The investigating officer of the Meghwadi police station added, "At 8.30 pm on Sunday, he prepared food and served to both his wife and daughter, and also gave them their regular medicines. As they went to sleep, Gandhok apologised to both of them and said that he was now tired of helping them, and that his body was not supporting him due to old age. He told them that he can't do this any more, and was worried who will take care of them if he dies. He apologised to both of them and put them to sleep. Later, he first slit his wife's throat and then his daughter's."

Prem Sandesh society in Andheri East where the family lived

Protected other daughter

Police on Wednesday said Gandhok, who was in the Army, ensured that his elder daughter and her family don't get involved in the case. Meghwadi police will, however, question his son, as they lived in Virar before moving to a rented flat in Andheri East. The son also lives in Virar.

If they find that the son abandoned his father, and now-deceased mother and sister, then he will be booked under the Senior Citizens Act, police told mid-day.

Meghwadi officers said Gandhok, who was in the Army, has a very good knowledge of the law system, and knew that if police arrived at the spot and found his daughter and her family with the bodies then they would be in trouble too and might get arrested.

The investigating officer said, "Gandhok saved his daughter and her family from involvement in the crime and from any police association."

Last month, Gandhok moved to Prem Sandesh Society at Sher-e-Punjab Colony in Andheri East where his elder daughter Guruvindkaur Rajbans Anand also lives with her family.

Gandhok killed his wife and daughter on Sunday night and called Guruvindkaur around 11.30 am on Monday to tell her that he had killed them. Guruvindkaur and her son Jay rushed to his home, but the 89-year-old didn't open the door, said police. Gandhok asked them to first call the police. Jay immediately went to Meghwadi police station and informed the officers, who came to the spot along with him. It was only then that Gandhok opened the door, the police added.

Question son

Police said they will inquire why the trio shifted to Andheri East from Virar. One of Gandhok's neighbours told mid-day, "We never saw their son at home. He should have come to help them at least for moral support. The elder daughter has her own family, but she was helping him. His son should be booked for abandoning his elderly and ailing parents and mentally challenged sister. It is too bad that at the age of 89, Gandhok was cleaning the house, cooking and taking care of his bedridden wife and mentally challenged daughter."