Crippled by accident, Bengal youth seeks euthanasia

Kolkata, Jan 9: Unable to meet ends and unwilling to live a life of a cripple, a poverty-stricken youth in West Bengal's Malda has written to the district administration seeking euthanasia.

Crippled after meeting with an accident, 20-year-old Suman Das has written to district magistrate Sharad Dwivedi expressing his desire to end his life.

"When we can't afford to eat properly, how can I get treatment? Because of my condition, my younger brother has to work as a labourer. I don't want to live a life of a cripple," Das said on Saturday.

"Who will take care of me all my life? I don't want to live, so I have written to the district magistrate pleading that I be allowed to die," he added.

While Dwivedi was not available for comment, a panchayat official said efforts were being made to get Das admitted to a hospital on government expense.

IANS