Unable to meet newborn, Amritsar man ends life

AMRITSAR: A 38-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling at his residence in Rani Ka Bagh area here on Sunday.

As per information, the victim, identified as Jaswinder Singh, had been yearning to get a glimpse of his newborn son, whom his wife had given birth at her maternal home in Jammu on April 4. However, he was repeatedly denied permission to enter Jammu at Lakhanpur border.

His wife Baljit Kaur said that after the imposition of the Covid-19 lockdown, Jaswinder couldn’t meet her and the baby.

“My husband couldn’t come to meet us due to the lockdown. He was desperate to see his son, and had tried to come to Jammu at least three times, but he was denied entry at the Lakhanpur border, despite having permission from Amritsar police,” said the bereaved wife.

Baljit’s mother Surinder Kaur said, “We got a call from Amritsar police on Sunday morning informing us about the suicide of my son-in-law.”

The victim has also left a suicide note. According to the police, Jaswinder has quoted not being able to meet his son as one of the reasons for his depression in the suicide note.

“Another reason mentioned in the note is a monetary dispute with one of his relatives,” said assistant sub-inspector Nirmal Singh of Civil Lines police station.

He said they have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Crpc). The victim had been working as a private teacher in Amritsar.