Kolkata: A 12-year-old boy allegedly consumed pesticide and died after being accused of "stealing" a packet of chips and forced to do sit-ups by a shopkeeper in Panskura, Paschim Medinipur district, a police officer said Friday.
Krishendu Das, a Class 7 student, allegedly took a packet of chips from a shop at Gosaiber Bazar in Panskura on Thursday evening after failing to find the shopkeeper, Subhankar Dikshit. He had called out, "Uncle, I will buy chips" repeatedly without any response and finally left the shop, allegedly with one packet of chips, the officer said, quoting his grief-stricken mother.
Dikshit allegedly chased the boy after returning to the shop, slapped him, and forced him to do sit-ups in public, according to the family's complaint. The officer confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Das' mother was called to the scene, where she scolded and slapped him. The boy insisted he had picked up a junk food packet lying in a heap near the shop and intended to pay later. He even apologised and offered to pay immediately, but the shop owner accused him of lying.
Krishnendu, visibly upset, returned home with his mother, locked himself inside his room, and refused to open the door. After some time, his mother and neighbours forced the door open, only to find him frothing at the mouth with a half-empty pesticide bottle beside him. A note, purportedly written by him in Bengali, was discovered nearby, the officer said.
"Maa I am not a thief. I did not steal. Uncle (shopkeeper) was not around as I waited. While returning I spotted a kurkure packet lying on the road and picked it up. I love Kurkure," said the note.
Krishnendu further said, "These are my final words before leaving. Please excuse me for this act(consuming pesticide)."
He was taken to Tamluk Hospital and admitted to ICU but died soon afterwards.
The shop owner, also a civic volunteer associated with Bengal Police to assist in traffic management, initially claimed he did not assault the child.
But after the incident became known, he could not be traced as a crowd assembled before his closed shop.
(inputs from PTI)