A 33-year-old man from Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, committed suicide along with his wife, before killing their three children over huge debts and loss in business. A video he had recorded before committing suicide has been going viral.

After poisoning his three children, identified as Priyadharsini (5), Yuva Sri (3), and Bharathy (1), with cyanide, the man, Arul (33) and his wife Sivagami (27) recorded a video, stating why they had decided to take the extreme step. In the video, he had reportedly said, "I have already given cyanide to my three children and I am going to take it. Please ban three-number lotteries in Villupuram. At least, ten people like me will survive. Already my daughters are suffering for life and soon I will also go. Association people, please help people like me. We will be free now and won't disturb anyone hereafter. With goldsmith job, can't do anything and we are going forever." Right before the end of the video, which he had shared with his friends on WhatsApp, he was heard saying, "Hope no one is good and no one is bad on this earth. All my children are dying in front of my eyes. I know that no one will help us. No problem. We will not be a burden to anyone on this earth. I have mixed cyanide in alcohol. I am about to drink that. We are free now."

When their friends rushed to the spot along with the police, the couple and their children were already dead. A case of unnatural death has been registered by the Villupuram town police and the bodies of the five of them have been sent to the Villupuram government hospital for post-mortem.