Labourer held for abetting youth’s suicide by spreading rumour of affair

Nashik: A 30-year-old labourer was arrested on Wednesday on charges of abetting the suicide of a 23-year-old youth. The arrest follows a video allegedly posted by the youth on social media before his death, in which he accused the labourer of driving him to take the extreme step.

The accused was produced before a court on Friday and has been remanded to police custody for three days, till Monday.

According to the Dhule Taluka police, the youth lived with his mother and elder brother in Dhule taluka. “A related couple also resided nearby. The woman in that household was frequently subjected to domestic violence by her husband, particularly when he was intoxicated. The youth and his family were aware of the situation,” the police said.

Unable to bear the repeated abuse, the woman allegedly consumed a poisonous substance. The youth rushed her to Dhule Civil Hospital, where she died during treatment on June 3.

After her death, the accused —who is the woman’s cousin—reportedly confronted the youth and accused him of having an affair with her, questioning his role in taking her to the hospital. Inspector Dhananjay Patil of the Dhule Taluka police said on the morning of June 4, youth’s sister-in-law found him hanging from an iron angle of a tin roof outside their house while she was cleaning the premises. She immediately informed other family members, who then contacted the police.

During inquiry, youth’s brother checked his cellphone and found a video uploaded before his death. In the video, the youth allegedly stated that he was ending his life because the accused had spread false rumours across the village, tarnishing his reputation by claiming he was in a relationship with the deceased woman, the police said.