Upset Over His Viral Videos, Elderly Waste Collector Dies By Suicide in Rajasthan

Jaipur: An elderly waste collector in a village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur died by suicide after videos of him went viral on social media, leading to ridicule from villagers, according to police reports. The man, Pratab Singh, who collected plastic bottles and other waste on a hand cart to sell for a living, was a familiar figure in the village, known to everyone as “Babaji.”

He was allegedly mocked by some young people in Lohawat village, who made videos and memes of him and shared them on social media. "Do you want to buy some waste?" Pratab Singh would reportedly ask them as they chased him, filming videos. Despite his attempts to engage, they continued to mock him and post memes, the police said.

A video shared on X shows some men chasing and mocking him as he pushes his handcart.

As the videos were shared more widely, Pratab Singh became increasingly recognised by people. Distressed by the viral videos and unwanted attention, he took the extreme step.

"His body was found hanging from a tree near the highway. A case has been registered and investigation is on," the police said.

His trash cart was found abandoned near the Phalodi State Highway. Before the incident, some youths were seen harassing him by repeatedly calling him “Bhangaaar Leveno Hai.”