Siliguri, 29th May: The tragic death of 17-year-old Bappa Barman of Siliguri’s Devidanga has left the people shocked and outraged as the death of a youth has led to tensions and protests in the area. Reportedly, the youth was found hanging from the noose in his room on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, Bappa had been involved in a romantic relationship with Neha Sharma, daughter of Hari Sharma, a member of the Matigara Panchayat Samiti. However, on Tuesday, a dispute between Bappa and Neha escalated when Bappa reportedly slapped Neha in the Milan More area. This altercation led to further confrontation as Neha’s father, Hari Sharma, allegedly joined in and physically assaulted Bappa in public at the Devidanga ground.
However, the matter worsened when Bappa, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide last night. The news of his death sparked outrage among his family and community members, who demanded justice for Bappa and the immediate arrest of Hari Sharma and his daughter. However, the situation took a violent turn as angry protesters pelted stones at police vehicles, injuring officers and breaking the car windows. In response to the escalating tension, heavy police presence, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), was deployed in the area to restore order.
Speaking on behalf of the deceased, Bappa’s father accused Hari Sharma and his daughter of coercing his son to commit suicide. He further demanded stringent punishment for those responsible for the tragic outcome. Meanwhile, Hari Sharma denied the allegations, claiming that he and his daughter had only acted in self-defense after Bappa assaulted Neha. He dismissed accusations of instigating the suicide as baseless and accused others of conspiring against his family.
Currently, the Pradhan Nagar police are investigating the matter while the body of the deceased has been sent to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) for post-mortem examination.