A 19-year-old, a first-year BSc student, died by suicide on Tuesday after he was allegedly harassed and assaulted in a Mumbai train over not speaking in Marathi.
Arnav Khaire was found dead in his home after the incident. His father, Jitendra Kjhaire, in a written complaint to the Kolsewadi police in Kalyan, alleged that his son took the extreme step after he was harassed by a group of men on the train.
Police are investigating the commuters involved.
The incident took place on Tuesday as Arnav was on his routine travel to attend classes on an Ambernath-Kalyan local train.
According to the father’s complaint, Arnav's class pass for the suburban train had expired, and so he purchased a general class ticket and got on the crowded compartment from Kalyan railway station to get to classes.
Due to the commuter rush, he accidentally brushed against a man and told him in Hindi, “Please move ahead a little.” Arnav’s father says that some men in the compartment were offended that he spoke in Hindi.
The complaint says, “They asked why he wasn’t speaking Marathi, and whether he was ashamed of speaking in his own language."
Arnav told his father, ‘I told them I am Marathi, but they still argued and beat me.' Khaire alleged that about 6 passengers brutally assaulted his son, punching him.
He also said that the attacker tore off his mask and that he was extremely scared and shaken by the incident. After the incident, Arnav got off the train at Thane and took another train to Mulund. After reaching class and attending a practical exam, Arnav called his father in he afternoon, saying, “Papa, I am not feeling well.” He got home by afternoon and called his father again to inform him about the incident.
Khaire told him that he would file a police complaint. After coming home in the evening, he found the door locked. He forced the door open with the help of the neighbours, to find that Arnav had died by suicide. Arvmav was declared dead at 9.05 pm after being taken to a hospital on an ambulance.
Khaire, who spoke to TOI, said, “The fear and mental stress caused by this incident pushed him towards suicide. I want a full investigation and justice for my son.”
Koledwadi police registered a case of accidental death, and an investigation is underway. |
