Arnav Khaire, a 19-year-old student at Kelkar College in Mulund, Maharashtra, died by suicide after an alleged attack in a local train. His father, Jitendra, think that the first-year BSc student faced mental pressure after being harassed by fellow commuters for speaking Hindi instead of Marathi.
According to reports, his father told the police: “On Tuesday, since Arnav’s first-year pass for the suburban train had expired, he purchased a general-class ticket and boarded a crowded general compartment at Kalyan railway station to go to college.” After registering an accidental death report, the Kolsewadi Police have started investigating the case.
What to know about Arnav Khaire?
According to his father’s account, the 19-year-old was on his way to college when the alleged incident in Mumbai occurred. The train was very crowded, and Arnav brushed against a man. He made a brief request in Hindi, “Thoda aage badho”.
College student beaten in train over language issue
Some passengers engaged in a minor argument over this, and things quickly escalated due to the language issue. His father reported that the other commuters asked Arnav Khaire if he was ashamed to speak his “own language.” Jitendra added that those individuals allegedly beat his son after Arnav clarified that he was Marathi.
As a result, this unexpected situation seemed to leave a serious psychological impact on Khaire. In a statement to the police, his father said that four to five men questioned and allegedly assaulted Arnav for not speaking Marathi.
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