Digital Goa, June 5 – A 23-year-old college student from Mapusa allegedly died by suicide after reportedly coming under severe mental stress following the circulation of a viral social media video showing him dumping garbage in a public place and the subsequent registration of a case against him by police. The deceased has been identified as resident of Gavsawado, Mapusa. According to SDPO Salim Shaikh, he allegedly shot himself with a pistol in the early hours of Friday. A video allegedly showing the young man dumping waste by the roadside was recorded by a citizen on June 3 and widely circulated on social media the following day. Taking cognisance of the video, Mapusa Police registered a case against him under Section 271 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act for allegedly creating a public health hazard. Police then summoned the young man to the police station and served him a legal notice on Thursday. Preliminary information suggests that the sudden developments and fear of social stigma may have caused him significant emotional distress which led to the drastic step. The tragedy has sparked serious concerns over the grave psychological impact that online trolling, public humiliation, and abrupt legal proceedings can have on young minds, highlighting the darker consequences of social media scrutiny in the digital age.
