Did A Business Couple in Ludhiana Take Their Lives Due to Bank Harassment?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Financial Stress: The couple faced immense financial pressure from bank officials.
- Impact of Harassment: Continuous harassment led to a tragic outcome.
- Need for Regulation: This incident highlights the need for stricter regulations in the banking sector.
- Community Response: The community is left grappling with the implications of this tragedy.
- Mental Health Awareness: The importance of mental health support in financial crises cannot be overstated.
Ludhiana, June 27 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking event from Punjab's Ludhiana, a businessman and his wife tragically took their own lives, allegedly as a result of ongoing harassment from officials at a private bank.
The individuals, identified as Jasbir Singh, 60, and Kuldeep Kaur, 59, reportedly ingested poison inside their shop located beneath their hosiery factory in Gandhi Nagar Market, one of the most prominent wholesale markets in the region.
Their son revealed that the couple had secured a loan against property (LAP) amounting to approximately Rs 2.35 crore from a private banking institution to support their business.
Despite adhering to payments for 55 EMIs, a single delayed payment this month allegedly resulted in extreme pressure and harassment from the bank's recovery agents.
The son stated that his parents were bombarded with over 200 calls daily and faced constant intimidation from recovery personnel well into the evening.
The tragic news emerged on Thursday morning when their son arrived at the shop to find them unconscious on the floor.
Before losing consciousness, they informed him that they had ingested poison. He rushed them to DMC Hospital, but unfortunately, both were pronounced dead.
The police have initiated a case and launched an investigation. SHO Gagandeep Singh of Division No. 4 police station confirmed that a suicide note was retrieved from the scene, in which the couple held the bank employees accountable for their mental anguish and threats.
The note also detailed abusive conduct and threats regarding the potential seizure of their home.
Just a week prior to this incident, the bank's recovery team allegedly visited the couple’s residence in the Harbanspura area on Goshala Road and behaved inappropriately.
Their son mentioned that when he attempted to intervene, he was also threatened, with bank officials allegedly discussing the takeover of their property.
Inspector Gagandeep Singh stated that the police have taken possession of the bodies and are conducting a post-mortem examination.
“The suicide note has been secured. We are conducting a comprehensive investigation and will take stringent action against those found culpable,” he remarked.