Contractor tests HIV positive; commits suicide

In a shocking incident, a building contractor committed suicide by jumping to his death from a building at K R Hospital on Thursday on learning that he had tested HIV positive.

The deceased has been identified as R Raveendran (54), a resident of Subhash Nagar in Arsikere.

Raveendran with his wife had come to visit their daughter at Vidyaranyapuram in the city, a few days back.

Following ill health, he was taken to a private hospital for check-up. When family members came to know that he had tested HIV positive, they kept it under wraps.

However, when he was taken to the ART centre at K R Hospital for treatment on Thursday, he learnt about testing positive for HIV.

He jumped from the first floor of the building and died on the spot.

Police sources said, Raveendran upon learning that he had tested positive for HIV asked his wife and son-in-law to fetch water for drinking.

When the duo went away, he jumped from the building injuring his head in the process. He died due to severe head injuries and excessive bleeding.

Raveendran has two daughters and a son. The second daughter’s marriage was scheduled to take place after three months.

A case has been registered.