Youth ends life due to ‘sexual harassment’

Surat: The family members of an 18-year-old youth, who ended his life on July 26, alleged that he committed suicide following harassment by a 27-year-old woman who had developed physical relationship with him in the past couple of years and was blackmailing him. Mahil Gamit, a resident of Nana Varachha, was found hanging from the ceiling fan at his residence on Sunday morning.
Police did not find any suicide note in the house but family members allege that Mahil was living under stress due to the relationship.
Mahil, a diamond unit employee, was living with his mother Tara (45) and Vishal (23), also an employee in a diamond unit. His mother informed the police that on Sunday morning Mahil received a call on his mobile phone and he went upstairs. Later when he did not come down his mother went to check and found the body hanging.
“Mahil started receiving threats from the woman’s former boyfriends. Mahil and the woman were spotted together by the woman’s husband after which the man came to fight with us. Her husband and boyfriend were pressurising Mahil to discontinue the relationship while the woman was blackmailing him. This drove my brother into depression,” said Vishal.
The family is currently in their native village in Mangrol of Surat district to perform rituals. After returning, police are likely to question them in details. “The family members have informed the police about harassment by the woman. They will be questioned after they return from the village,” said a police officer at the Kapodra Police Station.
“Mobile call records and messages of the deceased will be checked to find out if he was harassed by the woman. We have not called the woman for questioning and she will be called only if we get strong evidence against her,” police added.