Ostracised by villagers, HIV infected couple commit suicide

Unable to bear the social stigma, an HIV-infected couple allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison.While the husband died on the way to the hospital on 24 October, the 35-year-old woman died at a hospital yesterday, North Tripura district, SP (North) Abhijit Saptarshi told reporters.[caption id="attachment_1209151" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image: AFP[/caption]The couple, living in Hurua village, were ostracised by the villagers and relatives, who had asked them to leave the village fearing spread of the infection, the police said.The woman had to abort her five-month-old foetus on the advice of doctors when she was detected as HIV positive in 2008.The statement of the woman has been recorded in the hospital and appropriate action would be taken, the SP said.A case of unnatural death has been registered by the police.PTI