No money, brick kiln owner kills self in Howrah

Bibhas Bhattacharyya, HT, 24 December, KOLKATA: Debasish Bhakto, a brick kiln owner, killed himself following his failure to pay his workers following demonetisation. His body was found in his house in Howrah’s Salkia on Saturday morning.

While no suicide note was found, his family members told the councillor of ward 10 that he killed himself after remaining depressed for several days as he could not pay his workers in the absence of cash.

While opposition leaders have claimed that at least 100 persons have died while waiting in queues in ATMs and banks to withdraw/deposit cash, at least three big industrial units – two jute mills and a tea garden – have suspended operations in the state holding demonetisation responsible for their decision.

“When we went to his house, the family members told me that Bhakto was suffering from depression because of lack of cash to meet the expenses of his factory. A labour trouble has already begun because of the non-payment of wages. His family members claimed that despite having sufficient money in his bank account, he was not being able to withdraw,” said Manojit Rafel, the councillor of the ward no. 10.

The councillor also said that Bhakto owned a brick kiln in Kulpi of South 24-Parganas. He also had a gold jewellery business. The members of the Bhakto family were too shocked to speak to the media.

The family members found a kitchen knife with which he slashed his throat. The police registered a case of unnatural death, but ruled out homicide. The body was sent for post mortem.

“He was quite affluent and we found his body from the threestoried house that he owned in Salkia,” said a senior officer of Howrah City Police.