Youth in Bengal takes own life for fear of Coronavirus

Durgapur (West Burdwan)/Kolkata, 26 March (HS): In a tragic incident, a 27-year-old youth was found hanging in his residence in this South Bengal Industrial town today after he allegedly suspected that he was suffering from Coronavirus. According to the police, the youth, a resident of Majhpara area of the town, about 180 km from Kolkata, reportedly believed that he was suffering from COVID -19 because he was having high fever and cough for the past one week. As such he was staying in an isolated room in a local club near his house in a bid to prevent the spread of the possible disease to any other member of his family and friends. But yesterday the police without realizing the fact and without taking him to any doctor for test, forced him to leave the clubhouse and ordered him to go home, which he did under duress. But today he was found hanging in his house by the members of his family who immediately informed the police. The body was later taken for post mortem. As a result, a pall of gloom has descended in the entire locality and the local people started blaming the police for being so insensitive. They should have verified his claim before sending him back home by force, they said and demanded a probe into the unfortunate death. At least one person, a 58-year-old resident of Dum Dum in North Kolkata, has so far died of confirmed Coronavirus in West Bengal, with ten other people remaining positive and suffering from the disease after they were found carrying the virus in their bodies.