Newly engaged municipal worker dies by suicide

Rajkot: Barely a month after he got engaged to a woman from Porbandar, a 28-year-old man died by suicide after making a video call to his fiancee, at Khambhaliya town of Devbhumi Dwarka district. Police have begun an investigation and are examining the phone of the deceased, Rakesh Gohil, to get clues on what led to the suicide. Rakesh, a contracted employee of the Khambhaliya municipality, was found hanged in his room late on Friday night. According to police sources and statements from his family members, Rakesh was on a video call with his fiancee shortly before his death. He reportedly told her that he intended to take his own life. Alarmed, the woman alerted her mother, who contacted Sahil, a relative of Rakesh's, asking him to rush to Rakesh's house. Rakesh's mother, who works at a private hospital, was away on duty, and his father, Deepak, was asleep. Sahil arrived at the house and alerted Deepak, who forced open the door to Rakesh's room, only to find him hanged. An accidental death has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Jam Khambhaliya police station. Rakesh's father told police that his son used a scarf to hang himself. Sources said Rakesh was the only son of the family. He had two sisters. Speaking to mediapersons, Manoj Vaghela, president of the Jam Khambhaliya Valmiki Samaj, said Rakesh told his fiancee during their late-night conversation that he was planning to end his life. The conversation they had prior to the act is being investigated, though no conclusive information has emerged yet.