The tragic incident involving the 24-year-old man from Thane has left the community in shock and raised concerns about the psychological toll of legal proceedings and societal pressures. Manish Uttekar’s untimely death came shortly after he was apprehended for driving under the influence of alcohol. The situation took a dark turn when he took to social media to express his anguish, blaming the traffic police for subjecting him to harassment.
Living in Thane’s Wagle Estate area, Manish Uttekar’s life took a devastating turn on Friday afternoon when he was found hanging in his home. The suicide note he shared on social media alleged that he had faced mistreatment at the hands of traffic cops and that they were the cause of his unbearable suffering. However, the police, in response, refuted these accusations, asserting that Manish had, in fact, requested leniency from them due to the impact a drunk-driving case could have on his future prospects. Preparing for competitive exams at the time, the mounting pressure and the prospect of a legal battle along with the psychological toll weighed heavily on him.
In his final words, Manish named two officers, “Pushpak and Sudhakar,” from the Kopri traffic unit, holding them responsible for his predicament. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, however, clarified that no individuals with those names served in the Kopri unit, bringing the veracity of his claims into question.
The complexities of drunk-driving cases cannot be undermined, as they are deemed non-compoundable, meaning they cannot be settled through compromise. Legal action is mandatory, and the authorities are required to follow through with legal proceedings.
In a disturbingly similar event in Mumbai’s Borivali, Deepak Shivaji Jadhav, aged 28, was discovered hanging inside a police lock-up, where he was being held for alleged assault. Rushed to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead, adding to the growing concern over custodial deaths and the well-being of individuals in police custody.
Meanwhile, in east Delhi, another heart-wrenching incident occurred when a 16-year-old boy, Ankit Badola, was found hanging in the bathroom of his home. A suicide note left behind revealed that the intense pressure of meeting his parents’ academic expectations weighed heavily on him. As a student in Class 11, the burden became overwhelming, leading him to take such a drastic step.
These incidents serve as a sobering reminder of the need for greater awareness and support for mental health issues, especially among young individuals facing academic and societal pressures. Authorities and communities must work together to foster an environment of empathy and understanding, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive the necessary support and intervention before it’s too late.