TURSUNZODA, November 15, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The authorities of the city of Tursunzoda, some 65 kilometers to the west of Dushanbe, are taking measures to try to stem an increase in the number of suicides in the area.

The municipal authorities have organized prophylactic meetings with the population.

During one of such meetings, Barakatullo Kamolov, a chief prosecutor for Tursunzoda, noted that 76 suicides and suicide attempts have been registered in the city over the first nine months of this year.   “For comparison, only 26 such cases have been reported in Khatlon province over the same nine-month period,” the prosecutor said.

According to him, the listed causes of suicide death were economic and family problems (30) and mental disease (46).

Kamolov called on residents to actively cooperate with law enforcement agencies in revealing and preventing all kinds of law violations.

Meanwhile, Ms. Shahlo Vahhobjonova, the deputy chairperson of the Tursunzoda city court, blames low standard of living and domestic violence.