KOLKATA: A 64-year-old jeweller, who had recently lost his wife and whose business was badly hit since the beginning of lockdown, allegedly jumped off his brother’s 10th-floor flat in the Girish Park area on Thursday.
The incident was reported around 12.45pm from Madan Chatterjee Street. Cops said the senior citizen, Mahesh Kumar Saraf, had been facing financial problems.
“Saraf was a resident of Benarasi Ghosh Street. He reportedly told his brother, Chandra Kant, that he had come to the latter’s flat on some important business,” said an investigating officer.
The cop added: “During inquiry, it transpired that the the 64-year-old had a gems and jewellery shop at Burrabazar and since the beginning of lockdown his business has been suffering. It never really took off even after unlock. Saraf is survived by his son and daughter. Also, he was yet to come to terms with his wife’s death. No suicide note was found. No complaint was also received from the family regarding his death,” said an investigating officer.
“However, the exact reason behind his death needs to be probed. We had taken him to RG Kar Hospital, where he was declared dead. We have begun inquest proceedings and will be speaking to his family members soon to ascertain the exact reason behind this step,” said DC (Central) Sudheer Kumar Neelakantam.
“According to studies, 90% of the suicide cases are related to depression. Depression is a silent killer. We need to talk about depression and other mental illness more often, so that the stigma attached with the ailment can be driven away. Those suffering from the illness can seek professional help before it is too late,” a senior doctor associated with the Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) at IPGMER, SSKM Hospital, told TOI.
With the pandemic hitting the city, there have been more than 50 suicide cases in the past few months.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/jeweller-falls-to-death-from-10th-floor/articleshow/78942088.cms
