Rajkot/Vadodara: In September last year, nine members of a family in Rajkot, including a minor, attempted suicide by consuming pesticide. One of them dialled 108, and all were brought to the hospital, where their lives were saved. The reason for the extreme step was that the family was in debt of crores of rupees after the traders they were dealing with committed fraud. The family members mixed pesticide in juice and drank it.
As Gujaratis are feeling the crunch of the stock market crash, along with the ups and downs of the satta market, slump in jobs, and trade, incidents of such extreme steps taken in despair come to light.
A Rajkot-based businessman ended his life in a public toilet at Racecourse in Jan by consuming poison. The victim, Alpesh Sakariya, recorded a video message and shared it in his family’s WhatsApp group before ending his life. He named ten loan sharks who made his life unbearable. He alleged in the video that despite paying regular interest, he was subjected to threats and harassment.
Rajkot police also booked six persons for driving an imitation jeweller to end his life after demanding more money, even after the payment of the majority of Rs 1.4 crore borrowed. The jeweller survived, added investigators.
In November 2024, a thief broke into the famous Mahakali Temple on Pavagadh Hill near Vadodara and stole ornaments worth Rs 78 lakhs. The accused, Vidur Vasava, told the police that he was addicted to online gambling and lost a lot of money. Vasava committed the theft as he was in dire need of money.