Tripura: ‘Starvation’ forces four of a family to commit suicide

Agartala: A couple reportedly hanged themselves after poisoning their two children to death in East Barakathal under Simna assembly constituency recently.

The reason behind the death is yet to be ascertained by the police but the locals alleged that the duo were reportedly suffering from massive financial constraints. Due to lack of work and food, they allegedly poisoned the children and, later, hanged themselves in a tree beside their home.

Speaking with reporters, state law minister, Ratan Lal Nath, who is also the legislator of the same constituency where the family allegedly opted for suicide, said that the death of the family members is sad and politics should not be done out of this incident.

“The deceased, Paresh Tati (35) and his wife Sandhani Tati (28), hanged themselves after poisoning their two children — Bishal Tati and Rupali Tati — on Saturday. The opposition parties are trying to do politics out of the death of family members by claiming that it happened due to lack of work and food, which is not true,” Nath said.

Speaking about the MGNREGA, Nath said, in the 2017-2018 financial year he worked for 25 days whereas in 2018-19 he worked for 76 man-days and this year he has already worked for over 50 days.

“The claim by political parties saying the death occurred due to a shortage of work and food is not true. The family also holds a BPL-ration card and rations were provided to the family,” Nath said.

Paresh Tati had purchased one kani of land from Prashana Debbarma three years back for worth Rs 1,20,000. Last year he had given three ganda of land on rent for Rs 7,000 to Pada Debbarma for ganja plantation. Later, when Prashana came to know about the illegal plantation of cannabis in the land, Prashana chopped off some of the trees.

“The land owner, Prashana, started threatening Tati to vacant the land, on the other hand, Pada Debbarma started demanding compensation from the family. Tati was under pressure from both ends. Hence he took the ultimate decision of his life, mother of the deceased, Sandhani Tati, told on record,” Nath added.

Meanwhile, a delegation of CPI-M, led by former chief minister Manik Sarkar met with the family members of the deceased Paresh Tanti on Monday.

Speaking with reports, Sarkar said, “It is very unfortunate that they died due to poverty and utter desperation. They had no works to run their family and also they were deep in debt.”

“Paresh Tanti had borrowed Rs 50,000 from Bandhan Bank and Rs 30,000 from a small financial institution, called M/s Annapurna. To pay interest on the loan, Tati had to pay the Bandhan Rs 1,100 per week and Rs 700 to the non-subsidy M/s Annapurna Company. It is a very painful situation. From where will they pay? There are no jobs in villages. We appeal to all villagers to stand along with the family”.

The statement of the CPIM party said that family who had committed suicide on Saturday afternoon last due to starvation and lack of work.

A delegation of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) also visited the family of the deceased, led by the convenor of the ad-hoc committee.

Speaking in a press conference Bhowmik said, “The family members died due to poverty and starvation. There is no works in the hilly areas. The deceased Tanti had a burden of bank loans, which he could not repay. We appeal to the BJP-IPFT government to generate more rural jobs to save poor people from starvation,” Bhowmik said.

The PCC also demanded Rs.5 lakh as companion and job for the younger brother of the deceased Paresh Tanti.