Humiliated in public, physically challenged youth takes own life

A physically challenged youth took his own life on Monday, allegedly after being humiliated publicly by a local union parishad (UP) chairman at a village arbitration in Kulaura upazila on Sunday.

The deceased, Israel Ali, 28, with a shorter right hand, was son of Asad Ali of Madhya Monsur village, police said.

Deceased’s father filed a case with Kulaura Police Station naming three people, including Kadipur UP Chairman Habibur Rahman on Monday night.

According to the prosecution, a gang entered the house of Shamsul Islam of the village and stole some valuables from there in mid April.

Later, Shamsul submitted a complaint with Kadipur UP Chairman Habibur against Israel, suspecting his involvement in the crime.

After receiving the complaint, Chairman Habibur called Israel and his father at a village arbitration on April 25 and verbally insulted the two.

He also fined them Tk 70 thousand.

As poor Israel and his father failed to pay the fine in time, Habibur called them at the village court on Sunday afternoon.

After insulting the duo once again, he reduced the fine to Tk 35 thousand.

Being humiliated repeatedly, Israel took poisonous pills the same night and started vomiting.

Locals rescued Israel and took him to Kulaura Upazila Health Complex, from where he was referred to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital first and then to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead yesterday afternoon.

Officer in Charge of Kulaura Police Station Eardous Hasan said victim’s father filed a case in this regard naming three people and four to five other unnamed.