PANCHKULA: From a failed scrap-material processing plant in Baddi to an unsuccessful tour and travel business in Dehradun, and eventually working as a driver in the Panchkula region, 42-year-old Praveen Mittal’s life was marked by a series of financial setbacks and debts running into several crores. In a tragic culmination of this long struggle, Praveen allegedly ended his life along with six members of his family in Sector 27, Panchkula, on Monday night following a Sector 5 religious congregation.
The Mittal family originally hailed from Barwala in Haryana’s Hisar district. Praveen moved to Panchkula with his parents in the mid-2000s, where he later married Reena. According to his cousins, Ankit Mittal and Sandeep Aggarwal, Praveen’s financial troubles began in 2008 when he suffered major losses in a scrap-material processing unit that he operated in Baddi. Despite repeated attempts, he was unable to turn the business around. Eventually, the bank stepped in and seized the factory along with other properties to recover a loan estimated at Rs 12–15 crore.Following this, Praveen became distant from the family and had little to no contact for nearly seven to eight years. It wasn’t until 2014 that the family discovered he relocated to Dehradun and started reconnecting.Ankit Mittal recalled that over the following years, Praveen slowly resumed occasional communication. “We saw each other at a few family gatherings,” he said. “He also visited us, and I went to see him in Dehradun. But then again, he faced another setback — this time in a tour and travel business he started, which also failed.”Referring to a suicide note reportedly written by Praveen, in which he requested that his father-in-law should not do their last rites, Ankit noted that the relationship between Praveen and his in-laws was strained. “When Praveen and his family moved back here a few months ago, they initially stayed with his father-in-law, Rakesh Gupta. Praveen lived on the first floor, while his father-in-law occupied the ground floor. However, they didn’t stay long and soon moved out as his father told him they did not get along well,” he said.“I last spoke with him about five days ago. He told me everything was fine and mentioned that the family recently shifted to a rented house in Saketri, near the Mansa Devi complex.” His father-in-law told reporters that there was no trouble between them and he was currently working as a driver.Car belonged to Dehradun residentMeanwhile, it was found that the Hyundai car in which the family was found was registered under Gambhir Singh Negi, a Dehradun resident. Negi told police that he met Praveen through an NGO called Child Life Care Mission and helped finance the car, though it was used exclusively by Praveen. Praveen’s brother, Jitender Mittal, who runs a ready-made garment business in Panchkula’s Rajiv Colony, has been assisting authorities with the investigation.No support system in our society: SociologistMeanwhile, talking about this scenario, Dr Rajesh Gill, retired Professor of Sociology, Panjab University and advocate at Punjab and Haryana high court, commented, “It is not easy to commit suicide, that too mass suicide, there must be some family desperation. It shows there is no support system in our society and we are so individualistic. We talk all good things on social media and not share our problems. In earlier times, there used to be community, neighbourhood and relatives to support. These things can be diluted after sharing. How isolated we are? Under such circumstances, survival becomes difficult. As far as children are concerned, we do not know whether they were told about the move or were given the poison in some eatables or drink without their knowledge. Suicide is tough for adults, you can imagine for minors.”
