Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (PS)
Udupi, Apr 7: The death of a man near a bus stop at Malpe on Thursday April 6 was not an accident but an act of suicide, it has emerged.
The man was who was crushed by the bus, whose identity was not initially established, has been identitified as Venkatesh, a native of Sringeri.
It was earlier reported that the private bus hit Venkatesh while he was standing near the bus stop. It is however learnt that Venkatesh, before deliberately coming under the wheels of the bus, informed of his intention to commit suicide.
Venkatesh had come to Udupi about four three or four years ago, leaving his wife and little children behind. His wife said that he used to call her on phone once a month.
Venkatesh was working in various hotels in Udupi-Malpe region. He was an alcoholic and as days passed by, he grew depressed and mentally unstable, it is said. On Thursday, he was behaving strangely, and after announcing that he was committing suicide, he came threw himself under the wheels of the moving bus, it is said.
Initially, his identity could not be established. Social worker Vishu Shetty then got hold of a number through which he was able to contact Venkaesh's wife and ascertain his name. The body has been handed over to the family.