DHARWAD: An autorickshaw driver committed suicide, unable to bear alleged harassment from a gay youth, in Dharwad on Thursday.
Yasin Rotiwale, a resident of Attikolla in Dharwad, had left home on October 12 and was found dead three days later at the Kelageri lake. Yasin’s father’ Rafeeq has alleged that Pavan, a homosexual, used to harass his son constantly which drove him to commit suicide.
Yasin and Pavan became friends about 7-8 months ago and got into a relationship. Pavan had even publicly declared that he had married Yasin. He used to call Yasin every day and pester him. Even on October 12, Pavan was with Yasin, claimed his parents.
Upset with Pavan’s constant harassment, Yasin ended his life, according to the complaint lodged by his father Rafiq with the Suburban police station. Pavan has since been arrested.
“We informed the Suburban police that our son has gone missing on October 12 and lodged a missing person’s complaint with the Vidyagiri police station the next day. We suspect that Pavan tortured our son and is responsible for his death”, said Rafiq.
It is also said that the two had a quarrel before Yasin ended his life. He had even called his father and narrated about the harassment and messaged his friends to take care of his parents.
“We had got a complaint about the missing youth and two days later, he was found dead in the lake. The victim Yasir committed suicide due to personal reasons and we have arrested Pavan”, said Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Labhu Ram.
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