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Bhurtel’s death: Suicide and beyond
APR 10 -
The mysterious death of a noted columnist Bharat Bhurtel inside a hotel room in Katmandu has shocked many. Police suspect it as suicide but the victim’s family denies it. In Nepal, it is estimated that around ten thousand mysterious deaths occur every year and such cases are on the rise, but they are hardly reported to police as suicide. It is hard for family members and society to trace the root causes of such deaths, which have failed to warrant comprehensive public dialogue and awareness campaigns.
Although such deaths are often attributed to mental health problems, the causes might be different.
In regard to Bhurtel’s death, the Post quotes Rajendra Dahal, (Journalist Bhurtel Found Dead, April 10) Press Advisor of President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, “Bhurtel seemed depressed when he had gone to President’s office on Wednesday.” The news further reports that the President himself sensed the abnormal behaviour of journalist Bhurtel and called a senior consultant Dr. Karbir Nath Yogi, a psychiatrist at TU Teaching Hospital to arrange Bhurtel’s appointment on the next day but he did not go to the hospital. It shows resistance to the use of psychiatric services, which sometimes result in tragic incidents.
President Dr. Yadav, according to Dahal, had entrusted Bhurtel with the responsibility of writing his biography last year and the work was due to be published in about three weeks. Burtel, said Dahal, was facing death threats and had apprised the president about it without giving details. “The President asked him to inform the police about the incident, but refused. The president on Wednesday asked Sanjay Yadav, one of his close aides, to book a hotel room for Bhurtel after he refused to go home.” It is sad that Bhurtel was found dead in the hotel room on Friday that the President Office arranged for him.
The turn of events and preliminary investigation indicate that it was a suicidal case.
Regarding the mental health problems, huge complexity surrounds us. It is unpredictable to find out what actually leads a person to suicide. Given the abnormal behaviour of Bhurtel, the President’s Office should have taken the precautionary measures, such as informing the family members and sending him to hospital instead of leaving him alone at the hotel. It could have possibly averted the tragedy.
(Lamichhane writes for the fortnightly column ‘Mental Health and Society’ in the Post)
Posted on: 2010-04-11 10:10
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