Black Friday: 2 brothers, their 4 children found hanging in Ahmedabad flat

AHMEDABAD: In the early hours of Friday, the city police were confronted by a grisly scene in a Hathijan flat: six decomposing bodies, of two men and their four children, hanging from the ceiling. Police said it appeared that the men — Amrish Patel, 43, and his brother Gaurang Patel, 38 — killed their children and then committed suicide. The brothers had two children each.
The deaths occurred at Gaurang Patel’s flat in Prayosh Residency on Hathijan Ring Road.

Police have not yet determined the reason for the brothers’ actions. Amrish and Gaurang Patel spared their wives — Jyotsna Amrish Patel, 40, and Hetal Gaurang Patel, 32. Inspector D R Gohil of the Vatva GIDC police station said that if the families were passing through a financial crisis, all members might have been pushed to the brink.
“One of Amrish Patel’s dead son was 12 years old and the other was 9,” Gohil said. “Gaurang Patel’s son was also 12 years old and his daughter was 7. The brothers were found hanging in the hall of the one-bedroom flat.” Gohil went on to say: “Two children were found hanging in the kitchen and the other two in the bedroom.”
Gohil said investigators have found two junk food containers and four empty paper cups in the flat. “The children might have been sedated before being hanged by their fathers,” Gohil said. “We have sent the bodies for postmortem examinations and have registered a case of accidental deaths.” The examinations will be conducted by a panel of doctors. “After we receive the reports, we may add the section of murder against the two men,” Gohil said.
Unfolding of the tragedy
According to police, Gaurang Patel and his family lived in the Prayosh Residency flat until about three years ago when they moved into a rented house in Hathijan. Gaurang Patel used to work as a fabric checker at a private company and Amrish Patel drove a cab till about a week ago.
“Amrish had quit being a cab driver and started working as a fabric checker, just as Gaurang did,” said the men’s sister, Pallavi Patel. “They had told their wives that things would be fine as businesses had resumed operations. Gaurang and Amrish were close to each other and loved their families.”
Pallavi Patel said that on the morning of June 17, her brothers told their wives they were taking their children for a long ride. “Amrish took his children in his car and Gaurang took his kids on his scooter,” she said. “They did not return. On the night of June 18, other members of the family went to Prayosh Residency to check.” She said the brothers’ vehicles were parked outside the complex. “The flat’s door had been locked from inside,” she said. “We informed the neighbours and police. Cops broke open the door and discovered the bodies.”