Why Mantralaya is a ‘SUICIDE POINT’
Convict on parole jumps to his death
The Mantralaya seems to be becoming a favourite hunting spot of those wishing to end their lives and draw attention to their last minute machinations.
On Wednesday, a youth had tried to commit suicide by dousing his body in kerosene and setting it aflame; a day later, Harshal Suresh Rawate (46), a resident of Chembur, has jumped from the fifth floor of the building – the administrative seat of the state government.
Harshal was serving a jail sentence on the charge of murdering his sister-in-law and was currently out on furlough. Today was his last day of parole.
A note was found in Harshal’s pocket, which brings out his angst. His wife had left him in 2003 after the killing. His family, too, had distanced itself.
These events had left him extremely frustrated and possibly depressed.
St George’s medical superintendent Madhukar Gaekwad told the Free Press Journal, “He was brought dead. He had injuries on head, back and hands. There is nothing suspicious about it.”
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr Manoj Sharma, whose team is investigating the incident, inspected the entire premises. Rawate was found lying prostrate at 6.30 pm in the open space in the atrium. Eyewitness said they heard a big thud and found a man lying on the ground. An Aadhar and PAN card were found on his person; also an ID card stating that he is a para-legal volunteer at Paithan jail. He also had Rs 10,000 on him.
Only the CCTV footage will establish the sequence of the events.
The exact reason for his visit to Mantralay could not be ascertained; it is being assumed he had gone to meet officials in the Law and Judiciary department to seek commuting of his sentence. Harshal’s is the fourth suicide incident at Mantralya in the recent past.