‘Mom, I didn’t steal’: Class 7 boy ends life after ‘theft’ accusation
Times of India | 23 May 2025
Panskura: A Class 7 student from Panskura died by suicide after ingesting pesticide, leaving behind a note that read, "Mom, I didn't steal."The tragic incident occurred in the Gosainber area of Panskura, East Midnapore when Krishnendu Das, a student of Bakulda High School, took his own life after being accused of stealing packets of chips from a local shop. According to local sources, on Sunday afternoon, Krishnendu was accused of stealing three packets of chips from a sweet shop owned by civic volunteer Subhankar Dikshit in Gosainber market. Residents claimed that a gust of wind had blown the packets away and Krishnendu was merely retrieving them. Subhankar pursued the boy on his motorcycle, accused him of theft and allegedly thrashed him up and made him apologise publicly.Krishnendu paid for the packets as well, said sources.Later, his mother took him back to the shop and publicly scolded him. Upon returning home, Krishnendu ingested pesticide. He was rushed to Tamluk Medical College and Hospital where he died on Thursday. The family alleges that the shopkeeper's treatment had driven him to take this drastic step. The civic volunteer has since gone missing. The family also believes that the public admonishment by his mother deeply affected him.