TNN

Ahmedabad, Mar 16: Pained by incessant squabbling between his physically-challenged parents, an 11-year-old boy committed suicide at his home in Odhav on Saturday evening. Shocked police officials say they have not come across such a young boy killing himself in Ahmedabad in recent years over such an issue.

Arpan Panchal, a class V student, hung himself with his mother's silk dupatta from a metal pipe in the house. He was the only child of Shailesh Panchal and Bhavna, both of whom are physically challenged.

Shailesh and his father-in-law had returned home late in the evening to find the door locked. When their knocks went unheeded, they broke open the door with the help of neighbours only to find Arpan dead.

"Arpan's parents were not on talking terms for the past two months and the family was passing through severe turmoil. The mother had already threatened to leave the house and the father had written a suicide note in advance that he and Arpan would consume poison if she walked out on them. When every attempt at reconciliation failed, she left their home at 9 am on Saturday," said JB Rana, inspector of Odhav police station.

After Bhavna left, Arpan was very distressed. He had repeatedly pleaded with his father to intervene. Shailesh, a tailor by profession, then went looking for his wife. Officials say Arpan had apparently stumbled upon his father's suicide note. He then added in the note that he agreed with his father's stance before ending his life.

Rana stated that the boy spent most of his time at home. "His mother has accused Shailesh of killing the boy. However, circumstantial evidence clearly points to suicide," Rana said.