George MendoncaNavi Mumbai: In a shocking and heart-wrenching incident, a 29-year-old tribal woman from Kharavali tribal hamlet in Mangaon taluka, Raigad, allegedly fed poison-laced cold drink to her four minor children before she herself consumed the poison on Saturday. While the woman and her two minor daughters have died, her two other minor children are being treated in the ICU at Alibaug Civil Hospital, informed the police.The deceased are the tribal woman identified as Asha Dharma Jadhav (29) and her two daughters, Nandini (6) and Durva (7), who were declared brought dead at Mangaon sub-district hospital. While, Asha’s son Ravi (8) and Rajshree (4) being critical, they were shifted to Alibaug civil hospital, where they were stabilized and are under observation in the ICU at Alibaug civil hospital.Acting on a complaint by the deceased Asha’s elder brother, Sandeep Mukane (35), a labourer, the Mangaon police have registered an FIR of suicide abetment against her husband Dharma Jadhav.Raigad SP Dalal said, “In the preliminary investigation by Mangaon police, it is understood that the woman Asha had an argument with her husband Dharma on Friday night after he came home in a drunken state. When inquired with the neighbours, they claimed that there were frequent quarrels between Asha and her husband Dharma over his habitual alcohol consumption. Even Asha’s brother has alleged that she was under mental stress due to frequent quarrels with her husband, as he daily returned home drunk and quarrelled with her.”SP Dalal further said, “From the house of the deceased, the forensic team has collected samples of vomit by the victims, food, water and cold drink bottles in which some cold drink was left over. The forensic lab report will confirm the presence of a poisonous substance in the cold drink.Shankar Kale, SDPO (Sub-divisional Police Officer) said, “The incident came to light on Saturday around 3 pm, when Asha’s sister-in-law visited her house and found her and 4 children lying motionless on the floor. The neighbours rushed them to Mangaon sub-district hospital, where Asha and her daughters Nadini and Dhurva were declared brought dead. Her son Ravi and daughter Rajshree were conscious and were shifted to Alibaug Civil Hospital. As the doctors informed the police about the incident, a medical-legal case was filed. Asha’s son Ravi told the police that her mother had fed them cold drink after mixing a tablet used for catching fish, as he knew about the tablet since he had accompanied her mother for fishing when she used to put the tablet in the creek after which the fish fell unconscious and floated on the water surface, and they collected their catch.”He added, “Even an FIR of murder and attempt to murder was registered against the deceased woman Asha Jadhav.”Raigad SP Dalal said, “As per the police complaint by deceased Asha’s brother, his brother-in-law Dharma Jadhav has been an alcoholic since his sister Asha got married in 2016. Due to his habitual drinking, there were frequent fights between Asha and Dharma, and he used to beat her. Therefore, Asha would come home to his house with her children, and he would convince her and send her back to her house. On May 20, when Asha had accompanied him to Ganpatipule to work at an orchard, after finishing work, while leaving Ganpatipule, Asha had told him that she was fed up with Dharma, who was constantly beating and abusing her. Asha had told him that if Dharma did not quit alcohol and stop mistreating her, she would commit suicide because of his physical and mental harassment.”
