Monday | Jun 09 2025 | 02:23:52 PM
New Delhi, May 26
In a tragic incident, a 12-year-old boy in West Bengal allegedly died by suicide and left a note behind after being publicly humiliated over accusations of stealing a packet of chips.
The police stated that the incident took place in Paschim Medinipur district on May 22.
The boy, identified as Krishnendu Das, a class 7 student, reportedly entered a shop looking to buy chips. He called out repeatedly for the shopkeeper, identified as Subhankar Dikshit, but received no response. the family claimed that he received no response and picked the chips thinking that they were lying there. The shopkeeper returned, chased Krishnendu down, slapped him and forced him to do sit-ups in public.
The boy’s mother was summoned to the scene and also scolded him. Krishnendu reportedly tried to explain that he intended to pay for the snack but was accused of lying. When he returned home, the boy locked himself in his room. His mother and neighbours later found him unconscious, frothing from the mouth with a half-empty pesticide bottle lying on his side.
A note left behind read, "Mom, I didn't steal the kurkure chips. I got the chips packet from the streets. I haven't stolen that." Krishnendu then consumed the poison.
Krishnendu was immediately rushed to a hospital and admitted to an ICU, but he died shortly after.
The body was recovered by the police and was sent for autopsy. After the post-mortem, it is handed over to the family.
The shopkeeper, who also serves as a civic volunteer for the local police, initially denied any assault. Following the boy's death, he went missing.
The police have registered a case of unnatural death and started an investigation.
