A 50-year-old goldsmith allegedly died by suicide in front of his wife and teenage son near the Ijoor and Women’s Police Station on B.M. Road in Ramanagara on Saturday evening, following a family dispute.

The deceased has been identified as Nataraj Achar, a resident of Vinayakanagar. He was married to Deepa and the couple have a son. The police said the couple had been involved in frequent disputes over family matters, following which Deepa had lodged complaints against Nataraj at the women’s police station in Ramanagara and at the Holenarasipura police station in Hassan district.

Deepa had been staying at her grandmother’s house in Holenarasipura for the past two months. She had come to Ramanagara on Saturday to meet her son. After Nataraj came to know about her visit, the couple reportedly quarrelled again when he met her near the school.

Later, Deepa and her son came to the women’s police station around 4.45 p.m. to lodge another complaint against Nataraj. The police said Nataraj followed them to the station and allegedly threatened to end his life if she filed a complaint. During the ensuing argument, he consumed cyanide and collapsed. He died within a few moments, the police said.

Nataraj, who worked in gold and silver jewellery making, had recently opened a small jewellery shop near M.G. Road in Ramanagara. A case has been registered, the police said.

(If you are in distress or having suicidal tendencies, please reach out to these helplines: TeleMANAS at 1-8008914416/ 14416, NIMHANS at 08026685948, 9480829670 or SAHAI at 080 25497777, +91-9886444075)