Siliguri, Aug. 13: A 22-year-old tried to kill himself today by slitting his wrist after he was caught, allegedly stealing utensils from a civic guesthouse here.

Police have taken the youth into custody and charged him with attempting suicide and creating nuisance in public place. A police official said the un-employed youth was frequently found smoking cannabis.

Swapan Debnath, a security guard, said last evening the man had tried to steal grills and utensils from Pantho Niwas, the guesthouse owned by the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The youth fled when he was about to be caught by the caretaker, Ajoy Mondal, who had spotted him on the terrace. Mondal said the man had told him that he was there to collect a cricket ball. The caretaker added that he didn’t smell anything foul since many people played on a ground nearby and some of them often came to the terrace to collect balls.

“But when I saw the youth rummaging through a bush behind the building later, I became curious and went there. He threw stones at me and ran away. After that, I found some grills, a pressure cooker and a few utensils I use in the kitchen, hidden in the thicket,” said Mondal.

This afternoon, the youth was again spotted outside the civic guesthouse around 12.30pm. Mondal, who saw the man, related yesterday’s incident to the security guards.

“Soon, I, along with the other guards, caught him,” said Debnath.

The youth cut up the upper portion of his left wrist with a blade that he had with him when he realised that the guards had contacted the Siliguri police. He threatened to commit suicide, alleging that the guards were torturing him by bringing false charges against him, said Mondal.

The youth was taken to Siliguri District Hospital by the police and given first aid.