The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Harassment’ for recovery of debt drives labourer to suicide

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Sunday, Jun 28, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Harassment’ for recovery of debt drives labourer to suicide

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Alleged harassment to recover a loan amount of Rs. 15,000 claimed the life of a labourer at SRT Quarters in Sanathnagar on Friday.

Ashwini Kumar, 29, ended his life by consuming pesticide allegedly after a financier, Purushotham, abused him and threatened to occupy his house since he could not pay back the loan. A case of abetment to suicide under section 306 of Indian Penal Code was registered against the financier following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother Tara Bai, the Sanathnagar Inspector, A. Balakoti, told reporters.

Kumar was the youngest of Tara Bai’s two sons. While his brother lived separately, unmarried Kumar was residing in the present house with his mother. A daily wage earner, Kumar secured a loan of Rs. 15,000 from Purushotham, a financier living in the same locality.

According to the Inspector, Purushotham had been pestering Kumar to pay back the loan at once since the total debt amount became nearly Rs. 50,000 including the interest. As Kumar expressed his inability to pay such huge amount immediately, the financier allegedly pressurised him to hand over his house towards payment of the money.

Kumar and his mother vehemently refused this proposal. “But Purushotham came to their house around 3 p.m. on Friday and threatened that he would forcibly throw them out and take possession of the house if they did not vacate it by night,” the Inspector said.

Two hours later, Kumar went out, returned with a bottle of pesticide and consumed it when his mother was busy with the daily chores. He was rushed to the Gandhi Hospital by the neighbours when he started vomiting and died while undergoing treatment.

The Inspector said that statements of the neighbours substantiated Tara Bai’s allegation that the financier’s threat drove his son to commit suicide. Purushotham is absconding.

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Andhra Pradesh