72 commit suicide during the lockdown in Kanchanpur

A total of 72 people have committed suicide in Kanchanpur district during the government's lockdown in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus since the second week of April. According to the District Police Office in Kanchanpur 39 men and 33 women have committed suicide in the past four months.

Spokesperson of the office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Amar Bahadur Thapa reported that the instances of suicide, domestic violence and sexual violence against women have increased during the lockdown, “Comparing the rates of people committing suicide during the lockdown to previous years, it seems that there has been an increase. Two cases of suicide incitement have been registered in April and May”.

The police reported that 32 people have committed suicide by consuming poison while 40 people have committed suicide by hanging. DSP Thapa stated that ”Incidents of violence seem to have increased due to various reasons, largely due to unemployment for extended periods in an impoverished community, the Police have also planned to control the crime during the lockdown period."

During the lockdown period, one defendant was jailed for a suicide incitement case and another was released after the court date was confirmed. ”Two cases of suicide incitement were registered here during the lockdown and action was taken against them," said police spokesperson Thapa. Even in the past, the number of suicides in the far-western state has been higher than in other states, according to the police data.