‘Harassed’ by loan sharks, 2 men die by suicide in Jind

Jind: Two men died by suicide in Jind in the last two days after allegedly being harassed by financiers, police said on Monday. The kin of Satish Kumar, 36, from Indira Colony and Satish Sahgal, 48, of Jind City’s Jain Nagar area, alleged that both were beaten up by money lenders, which forced them to take the extreme step. Satish Kumar, who is survived by wife, son and two daughters, used to repair gas stoves. His relatives claimed that he had returned most of the loan amount along with interest and only Rs 1,200 was pending. “Financier Pawan Kumar and his father doubled the principal amount of Rs 10,000 in two months, increased the interest rate and later sought Rs 70,000 from Satish Kumar. Still, all the money was paid back and a meagre amount was pending, but they still roughed him up and forced him to transfer his bike in their name as well,” said one of the victim’s relatives.The family of Satish Sahgal, who was a rag picker, blocked the road leading to BJP MLA Krishan Middha’s house, seeking action against Praveen Redhu and Vikash Redhu, who had lent him Rs 15,000. They alleged that when Satish Sahgal went to pay his instalment, the accused thrashed him following a verbal spat over the amount. “He then went to the nearby railway station and consumed poison,” they added. Meanwhile, MLA Middha pacified the protesters and they lifted the blockade after more than two hours. Middha assured them to take up the matter of financial aid to the family with chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar as well. Jind SP Sumit Kumar said a list of those involved in financial activities and implicating innocent people was being prepared. “Instructions have been issued to all station house officers to keep tabs on such miscreants, who target vulnerable people and force them to take extreme step by giving loans on higher interest rates,” he added. People aware of the modus operandi of such loan sharks said they offer money to street vendors or labourers at an interest rate up to 20% and assault them in case of default.
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