Gujarat man attempts suicide over conversion bid on family members

The man was depressed over his wife and two children converting to Islam and living separately from him

A man from Gujarat’s Banaskantha district allegedly tried to commit suicide after being depressed over his wife and two children converting to Islam and living separately from him, police said on Monday.

The police have registered a case against one Sohel Sheikh and his four other family members on charge of suicide abetment by allegedly “brainwashing” Haresh Solanki’s wife and children to convert to Islam, they said.

Two of the accused were arrested on Monday, an official from Palanpur (east) police station said.

Solanki, hailing from Malgadh village in Deesa taluka of Banaskantha, allegedly consumed a poison to end his life. He is currently under treatment at a private hospital in Palanpur town and his condition is reported to be critical, police said.

As per the FIR lodged at Palanpur (east) police station on Sunday evening, Solanki, in a note recovered from his possession, said the members of Sheikh’s family were responsible for his mental state which compelled him to take the extreme step.

Solanki’s brother Rajesh had filed a police complaint, alleging that the accused persons “brainwashed” Solanki’s family members to convert to Islam.

They even made Solanki’s wife and children give a statement on a habeas corpus plea in the Gujarat High Court that they had done so on their own volition and wanted to live separately.