Bengal woman dies by suicide over inability to buy mobile phone

An 18-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide in West Bengal's Coochbehar district over her inability to procure a new mobile phone.

Neela Barman, a first-year student at Shitalkuchi College, had been eagerly awaiting a new phone for months. She had received financial assistance three months ago through the West Bengal government's 'Taruner Shwapno' scheme, but her father, faced with pressing family expenses, used the funds for other necessities.

This decision reportedly caused significant distress to Neela, who had pinned her hopes on using the money to purchase a phone.

According to her family, Neela's mental health had been deteriorating due to her unfulfilled desire for a mobile phone. Her elder sister, Moushumi, recounted that she had expressed her wish to own a phone before Saraswati Puja.

"My father promised to get her one, but she didn't believe him," Moushumi said.

The tragic turn of events unfolded on Sunday evening when Neela's body was discovered in a bamboo grove near her house. The police were alerted and have initiated an investigation. Her body has been sent for autopsy to determine the precise cause of death.

Neighbours and community members, including Swadesh Chandra Barman, expressed sorrow over the incident. "She was heartbroken after repeatedly asking for a phone and not getting it. It's devastating that she ended her life this way," Swadesh said.