India, May 23 -- A heart-wrenching tragedy has emerged from West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district, where a 12-year-old boy allegedly died by suicide after being publicly humiliated over a packet of chips. Krishnendu Das, a class 7 student from Panskura, reportedly consumed pesticide after being accused of stealing a Kurkure packet and forced to do sit-ups in public by a local shopkeeper, who is also a civic volunteer.

According to the boy's mother, Krishnendu had called out to the shopkeeper, Subhankar Dikshit, multiple times, saying, "Uncle, I will buy chips," but received no response. Finding no one at the counter, he allegedly picked up a packet lying near the shop and left, intending to pay later. Soon after, the shopkeeper return...