PANJIM: A rash suicides and suicide bids by police personnel, particularly among the lower hierarchy over the past few years have once again highlighted the problem of untreated depression among law enforcement personnel.
On Thursday night, Santosh Naik, assistant sub inspector at Porvorim Police Station became another policeman to take his own life, news that shook the police department — yet again. The death comes despite the department’s mounting efforts to encourage its personnel to seek help for depression and other mental health problems.
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“It’s painful. We have lost some bright personnel to suicide. Some had just begun their career in the department. We are doing everything conceivable to stop this incident within the department,” a senior officer said.
In August 2018, a woman constable poisoned herself after she was allegedly sexually abused and harassed by her senior — a police sub inspector, then posted at Verna Police Station. PSI Gautam Shetkar was booked for abetting her suicide of woman constable and transferred to Goa Reserve Police. However, the details of the case investigation were kept under wraps.
Earlier in March 2017, another lady police constable, attached to the office of the North Goa Superintendent of Police, hung herself at her residence in Porvorim. While the local police said they were inquiring into the death, her family reportedly did not lodge any complaint suspecting foul.
In 2015, two incidents of a suicide and suicide attempt had left the department in a tizzy. In October, Police Sub-Inspector Gaurish Malik attempted to kill self after firing a bullet from his service revolver at his chest. He was fortunately saved on timely help from his colleagues at the Pernem Police Station and doctors. Thereafter, in December, 2015 IRB constable Devidas Sinari who was in the lock-up at Bicholim Police Station on charges of murder, died by suicide.
A number of such cases were reported during the previous to, which were outcome of either harassment by seniors or family tension. The much-hyped suicide of Crime Branch Constable Chandru Gawas is still fresh. In May 2012, the constable poisoned himself following constant harassment by his seniors. In his dying declaration, the constable had named the officers harassing him. After an inquiry a police inspector was suspended and charged for abetting his suicide. This case too was kept away from the media limelight.
Other suicides have been Constable Sudhir Phadte attached with Crime Branch in December 2006, Constable Rupesh Volvoikar attached with Pernem Police Station in March 2009 and Constable Nikhil Arondekar attached to Pernem Police Station in February 2016.
Police Medical Officer Dr Dattaprasad Nagvekar said they conduct regular sessions on overall health care of the policemen. However, due to COVID-19 the focus was shifted on fighting the battle against the virus.
“We hold regular sessions for the police personnel/officers on nutrition, hypertension and psychiatry, etc. ,” he said adding, “DGP Mukesh Kumar Meena, has been working on upgradation of the department.
The department, sources said, will once again resume awareness camps on mental health including holding regular sessions on yoga and meditation.
