Tragic Death of Woman Linked to Microfinance Company Harassment
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Giridih (Jharkhand), Dec 23 (NationPress) A woman in Giridih district of Jharkhand is said to have taken her own life on Monday, allegedly due to relentless harassment by staff members of a microfinance organization.
The police responded to the report and retrieved the body, which has been forwarded for a post-mortem examination. An inquiry into the incident is currently in progress, according to police.
The victim, named Sulekha Devi, resided in Bhurai village within the jurisdiction of the Teesri police station. Her spouse, Amarjeet Sharma, is employed as a laborer in another state.
According to reports, Sulekha had secured a loan of Rs 50,000 from the microfinance entity but was facing difficulties in repaying certain installments. Employees of the company allegedly pressured her repeatedly for the outstanding balance.
On Monday morning, representatives from the company came to Sulekha’s residence once again, demanding immediate payment. Despite her requests for additional time, the employees purportedly resorted to threats.
As tensions heightened, villagers congregated outside her home, yet the company agents persisted in their demand for immediate repayment of dues.
In a tragic turn of events, Sulekha chose to end her life by hanging herself within her home. Villagers rushed to her aid, but she had already succumbed by the time they managed to free her from the noose.
The employees of the company fled the scene following the incident.
The local panchayat leader, Ibrahim Mian, notified the police, who then recovered the body and transported it to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The officer in charge of the police station stated that an investigation is ongoing, and those responsible will face justice.
This incident underscores a disturbing trend of harassment by microfinance and non-banking financial institutions in Jharkhand. Similar cases have been reported previously.
In October of last year, Zaibun Khatoon, a resident of Khandoli village in the Bengabad police station area, ingested poison after experiencing harassment from microfinance agents. She later passed away during treatment.
In September of last year, a 17-year-old girl from Hara Naukadih village under the Pratappur police station in Chatra district died after consuming poison. She had reportedly endured physical abuse and harassment from loan recovery agents.
Authorities continue to advocate for stricter regulations on recovery practices to avert such tragedies.
