Fed up of their penury and the burden of their five blind sons, a couple in Uttar Pradesh's Mau district has sought mercy killing for their entire family.

Munauwar (60) and his wife Rubina (55) have pleaded for mercy killing in their letter sent to President Pratibha Patil, Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi, state Chief Minister Mayawati and other authorities of Mau district, about 300 km from Lucknow.  

"We don't want to live any more. It's miserable. We are not even able to arrange food for ourselves on a daily basis," Munauwar told reporters in Mau on Friday.  

All his five sons aged between 16-35-were born blind.  

"As life has become a burden for all of us, we want to end it soon. Therefore, we have written to the president and others, seeking permission for mercy killing," he added.  

Munauwar, a resident of Mau's Palia village, is the sole breadwinner in the family and has not been able to take care of his five blind sons and wife for the past several months.  

"I have exhausted all of my resources on the treatment of my five blind sons. A few months ago, I even sold my small cloth shop to a villager just to generate some money for my family. Now, I have nothing to bank upon," the dejected man said.  

Villagers normally provide leftovers to Munauwar's family and that has kept them alive till now.  

"Believe me, if the neighbours stop providing leftovers to us, we will all eventually die of starvation," he said.  

Mau District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar told reporters, "Yes, we have learnt that a couple has sought mercy killing. We will meet the family and ensure they receive necessary help and are rehabilitated."