by MEERUT: A couple from Baraut attempted to kill themselves after going live on Facebook and blamed “heavy losses in trade due to the implementation of GST” for the extreme step. “The wife died during treatment while the husband is critical,” said Madan Singh, SHO of the Baraut Kotwali police station.
Rajiv Tomar, a shoe trader, along with his wife Poonam consumed poison on Tuesday. During the Facebook live, Rajiv, wailing and crying, shared his ordeal with those who joined the session. He opened a sachet and swallowed some sort of poison. As he kept crying, his wife joined him.
“I think I have the freedom to speak. I will pay the debts I have. Even if I die, I will pay. But I request everyone to share this video as much as possible. I am not an ‘anti-national’ but I want to tell (Narendra) Modi, you are not a well-wisher of small traders and farmers. Change your policies,” he said. Rajiv was a known BJP supporter.
One of the neighbours of the couple, said they were “well-off” until a few years back when their business started going down. “They had a showroom that got shut. Workers of the shoe unit also left their jobs as Rajiv had no money to pay their salaries. Poonam had to start stitching ladies’ suits to run the household,” he said.
Family members of the couple said they were aware of the duo’s losses but “never thought” that the two would try to kill themselves. Rajiv was living in the city’s Subhash Nagar area with his wife and two children, 11 and 14. Those watching the suicide pact live called police, who took the two to a hospital.
Rajiv Tomar, a shoe trader, along with his wife Poonam consumed poison on Tuesday. During the Facebook live, Rajiv, wailing and crying, shared his ordeal with those who joined the session. He opened a sachet and swallowed some sort of poison. As he kept crying, his wife joined him.
“I think I have the freedom to speak. I will pay the debts I have. Even if I die, I will pay. But I request everyone to share this video as much as possible. I am not an ‘anti-national’ but I want to tell (Narendra) Modi, you are not a well-wisher of small traders and farmers. Change your policies,” he said. Rajiv was a known BJP supporter.
One of the neighbours of the couple, said they were “well-off” until a few years back when their business started going down. “They had a showroom that got shut. Workers of the shoe unit also left their jobs as Rajiv had no money to pay their salaries. Poonam had to start stitching ladies’ suits to run the household,” he said.
Family members of the couple said they were aware of the duo’s losses but “never thought” that the two would try to kill themselves. Rajiv was living in the city’s Subhash Nagar area with his wife and two children, 11 and 14. Those watching the suicide pact live called police, who took the two to a hospital.
