New Delhi: The stigma attached with HIV/AIDS and illegitimate pregnancies was causing increasing number of people in the country to take their own lives, according to latest Government figures.

HIV/AIDS was stated to be the reason behind the alleged suicide of 741 people in 2001, an increase of 44.2 per cent from 514 cases the year before, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) said in its latest report on accidental deaths and suicides in India.

Illegitimate pregnancies led to 369 people to end their lives in 2001, up 42.5 per cent from 259 from the previous year.

Interestingly, 30 men were among those who committed suicide for this reason, according to the statistics.

Even depression apparently resulting from divorce was cited to be the reason behind 316 suicides in 2001, 43 per cent more than 221 in the year before.

According to the statistics, 1,209 people killed themselves because of fall in social reputation, up 39.6 per cent from 2000.

Cancellation or non-settlement of marriages was the reason behind the suicide of 924 people in 2001, 18.2 per cent more than the previous year.

Of them, 373 were male while nine were girls below the age of 14 years.