‘He was tortured by colleagues’

Claims the family of the policeman who allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday

The family of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Devendra (55), who allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday evening, claimed he was tortured by two colleagues at Jaitpur police station, where the deceased was posted.

Suicide note

In his suicide note, found by the family under his pillow at their residence in Ghaziabad’s Loni, Mr. Devendra purportedly wrote that he was being threatened by an ASI and the Station House Officer (SHO).

“He wrote that he was tortured by ASI Sunder Lal and SHO Ram Niwas. The SHO used to threaten him saying he would get him suspended just like he got another police officer suspended recently,” alleged Mr. Devendra’s 27-year-old son Mohit.

Mr. Mohit said his father had shared the problem with his mother Rajesh.

“He told my mother that they were troubling him for no rhyme or reason. He had taken a 15-day leave recently and resumed work on August 15. However, he told my mother that he didn’t feel like going back to work,” Mr. Mohit claimed.

The family said Mr. Devendra did not show any signs of distress when he left home on Tuesday afternoon.

Stating that his mother was the last person in the family to speak to his father, Mr. Mohit said, “My mother had gone to my aunt’s place. He called her and enquired if she had returned home. We never imagined that he would do something like this.”

The family met senior officers at the police headquarters on Wednesday and submitted a representation along with the suicide note, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-east) Romil Baaniya.

“An enquiry has been initiated and marked to an Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officer,” he said.

Mr. Baaniya added that the family has requested Mr. Mohit’s recruitment in the force. “It’s being looked into and we have asked them to apply formally,” he said.

According to the police, the 55-year-old victim got a service pistol issued around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Then, he went to an isolated place and allegedly shot himself.

“He was posted at Jaitpur police station and his shift was to begin at 8 p.m. After getting the pistol, he went to the banks of the Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj and shot himself in the head,” Mr. Baaniya had said on Tuesday.

The police said his private motorcycle was parked near the suicide spot.