Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, May 12 — Police have launched a search operation to apprehend an unidentified man who allegedly called a Latur resident "Pakistani" and assaulted him, an incident that reportedly led to the victim's suicide a day later.
The victim, 30-year-old Amir Gafur Pathan, a resident of Latur city in Maharashtra, allegedly died by suicide on the evening of May 4. According to his wife, the assault occurred a day earlier and involved communal slurs and threats.
Assault Preceded Tragic Death
In her official complaint, Samrin Amir Pathan, who works as a deputy manager with a private bank in neighbouring Dharashiv, said she was in regular contact with her husband. On May 3, as she arrived in Latur by bus, she called him to be picked up as usual. During the call, she reportedly overheard her husband pleading with someone to stop hitting him.Soon after, she located Amir at Samvidhan Chowk, his shirt torn. He narrated the incident, alleging that while waiting for her, an unknown man stepped out of a car, accused him of being from Kashmir and Pakistan, and physically assaulted him. The assailant also allegedly claimed to be a journalist and threatened to make Amir's photos and videos viral on social media, portraying him as a Pakistani national.
Police Register Case Under New Laws
Acting on the complaint, local police have registered a case of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities confirmed that teams have been deployed to locate and arrest the accused."We are searching for the accused, and the police have sent teams to apprehend him," said an official.
The incident has sparked concern over rising intolerance and misuse of social media threats. Investigations are ongoing.