Man ends life due to harassment

Rajkot: A 21-year-old labourer Jayesh Bavaliya working in the ceramic industry, died on Tuesday at the Rajkot civil hospital on Tuesday after he consumed poison owing to harassment by money lenders on Sunday evening. Bavaliya had consumed poison at his home in Jinpara area of Wankaner town in Morbi district. Wankaner police has booked Sarfaraz Hussain Makwana for issuing threats, abatement to suicide and under Money Lenders Act. Bavaliya had taken loan of Rs 1.5 lakh from Makwana four months ago to start his own business in the ceramic industry. He was supposed to pay a monthly instalment of Rs 13,000 to Makwana. But with the lockdown imposed in March, Bavaliya could not repay as his business could not take off and he too could not get any work as all units were closed. Depressed over constant threats by Makwana, Bavaliya drank poison at his home on Sunday. He was rushed to Rajkot civil hospital, where he succumbed on Tuesday morning. Makwana was booked on a complaint filed by Bavaliya’s father, Somabhai. TNN