Shahjahanpur suicide: Video shows family complaining about threats from lenders
(Sourced from PTI)
Nearly a month after four members of a family died by suicide due to financial problems in Shahjahanpur, a video posted on social media showed them begging for help as a moneylender was allegedly threatening them, police said on Tuesday. The four family members were found hanging in their house in Kache Katra locality on June 7.
The four members included Akhilesh Gupta (42), a medicine trader, his wife Rishu Gupta (39), their son Shivang (12), and their daughter Harshita (9). "During the investigation of the case, police arrested a man, who used to borrow money to pay previous loans, leading to Akhilesh being stuck in a debt trap. He owed lenders Rs. 1.35 crore in total," police said.
In the video posted online on Monday, Akhilesh can be heard saying that he took Rs. 10 lakh at five percent interest for expanding his business and was repaying it in installments. He says that he wrapped up his business and cleared the dues of two moneylenders but failed to pay back the third one.
The third one took away his vehicle and threatened to seize his house if he didn't return the money. The video was posted by Mohammad Taufeeq, who has been the victim of threats from moneylenders. "Moreover, a financier lodged a case at Sadar Bazar Police Station against Taufeeq for not repaying Rs. 48 lakh loaned to him," Station House Officer (SHO) Ashok Pal said.
The SHO said that the matter was being investigated in detail. "Strong action will be taken against all those found guilty," he said, adding a campaign was on against the moneylenders in the city on directions from Superintendent of Police (SP) PS Anand.
