Malda, Nov. 19: A 32-year-old man has chopped off his cancer-stricken left palm from the wrist, unable to bear the excruciating pains. He has also pleaded with the government to allow him to end his life.

Swarup Das, who had been detected with bone cancer two years ago, carried out the self-inflicted amputation in full view of his family members at Kanchantar, 14km from here, on Tuesday. He stays with his parents, wife and five-year-old daughter.

His 70-year-old father, Biswanath, said he was too infirm to go out to work. “My son was the sole bread-earner for us.” Asked whether the family tried to prevent him from chopping off his palm, the father said: “Why should we? His pain was unbearable for all of us to see. The palm has been buried in a place near our home.” The family members of Swarup, who used to be the helper of a truck, get to eat one meal a day — thanks to a few villagers. “We have spent all our savings on my husband’s treatment in Bangalore. We have written to the block development officer for money but have not received any response,” said Babita.

Malda district magistrate Sridhar Ghosh said he had received the appeal. “The youth has sent a copy to the chief minister asking for permission to end his life. I am looking into it.”