Faridabad siblings’ suicide: Locals, friends pool in to arrange funeral
FARIDABAD: THE bodies of the four siblings who were found hanging in their house in Faridabad were, as per their wish, sent to Burari for their last rites after different associations and their friends contributed money for the funerals, which was held on Sunday evening.
Ravi Kota, a priest at Faridabad’s Sector 28 church, said, “Though the four siblings wanted their belongings to be sold for their last rites, we did not do that. We decided to contribute for their dignified last rites, which were held today.”
The four siblings — Meena Mathews, Beena Mathews, Pradeep Mathews and Jaya Mathews — were found hanging from the ceiling fans at their rented house in Surajkund’s Dayalbagh in Faridabad on Saturday.
Members of Faridabad Malayalee Association, who came to know about the incident through news reports, also came forward and helped make arrangements to transport the bodies to the cemetery in Burari.
AV Philip, president of Haryana chapter of All India Malayalee Association, said, “When we came to know about this incident, the Malayalee association decided to contribute for transportation of the bodies and for their final rites.”
Many friends of the family’s youngest, Sanju, who had died two months ago, too contributed funds. They also accompanied the bodies to the cemetery in Burari. Most of these friends had been named in the suicide note as people who were to be paid back the money that the family had borrowed during their hard times. Amit Chauhan, a resident of Prahladpur in Delhi and classmate of deceased Sanju, said, “Sanju was our friend and it was really shocking to know his four siblings ended their lives. Some of his friends, including me, have contributed for their last rites.”
Ravi Kota, the priest who frequently interacted with the family, said the siblings regularly came for service and that the church had even offered to help him financially. The priest said the family chose not to accept any financial assistance from the church.