According to government records, 88 police officials have died by suicide in Kerala over the last five years ranging from 2019 to 2024.
Published Jul 15, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 9:00 AM
Despite the existing circular by the DGP regarding leave policies, that was issued in 2019, many cops often faced challenges in obtaining permissions, leading to significant mental pressure.
When a person joins the police force in Kerala, and elsewhere in India, it is necessary to take a vow to protect the life and property of all the citizens. And, the police personnel are required to diligently uphold the commitment.
However, the question arises: Are the lives and health of all police personnel being properly taken care of?
Examining the statistics and reports of Kerala police officials ending their lives due to their work, the conclusion is a resounding no.
“Dear Appu and Amalu, don’t be sad. Study well. Find a good job other than in the police force. Take care of your mother well…,” were the last words left by Joby Das, a senior Civil Police Officer (CPO) at the Kalamassery Armed Reserve (AR) Camp in the Ernakulam district in Kerala, in his suicide note, on 4 October, 2023.
This tragic incident sparked significant discussions across Kerala, on all platforms including prime-time news debates.
His suicide note provided direct hints about stress, workload and insults from senior officers, highlighting the severe impact these factors have on the lives of police personnel.
He also alleged that senior officers denied him allowances and subjected him to severe work pressure.
After the policeman took his own life and it sparked outrage in the state, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Muhammed Riyas announced that a detailed inquiry would be conducted into all the allegations.
However, like many such incidents, this controversy faded away over time.
Unfortunately, it was not a standalone incident, Madhu, a CPO of the Infopark station in Ernakulam, was found hanging in his residence on 11 June, 2024.
CPO Ratheesh of the Vandanmedu Police Station in Idukki was discovered dead in a lodge on 14 June, 2024.
On the same day, SI George Kuruvila of the Vizhinjam Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram was found dead at his house in Kottayam.
Sub Inspector of Police (SI) Jimmy George hanged himself in the old hospital building at the Police Academy on 8 June, 2024.
On the same day, Police driver Sudheesh of the Alappuzha AR camp was found hanging dead inside his house.
These cases add to the growing list of suicides among police suicides, reflecting a distressing trend.
According to government records, 88 police officials have died by suicide in the state over the five years ranging from 2019 to 2024.
A closer examination reveals a significant increase in police suicides after 2015. Between 2015 and 2018 alone, 51 officers died by suicide, with 16 of these deaths occurring in 2016.
In 2019, 18 officers ended their lives. In 2020 and 2021, it was reduced to 10 and 8 respectively and from 2022 to till date, 25 officers ended their lives by suicide.
In the past ten years, 112 officials have ended their lives while in service.
On 1 July, the issue of suicides in Kerala Police came to the fore, again, after Congress MLA PC Vishnunath moved a notice for an adjournment debate in the state Assembly highlighting the alarmingly high rate of suicides in the state force.
Vishnunath attributed this tragic trend to the government’s neglect in recruiting additional force, resulting in heavy workloads for the existing personnel. He labelled these suicides as “state-sponsored atrocity”.
He pointed out that, on average, 118 officers are needed per station.
Yet, in many stations, as few as 44 officers manage the workload meant for 118. This imbalance forces most officers to work over 14 hours daily, leaving them no time to fulfil social and family commitments.
In response to this adjournment motion, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also the home minister, stated that the government was implementing various measures to reduce the workload of police officers.
However, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly VD Satheesan alleged that district police chiefs are unduly influenced by CPI(M) district secretaries, and Station House Officers (SHOs) are managed by area committees, implying that the ruling party exerts control over the police force in the state.
Despite the existing circular by the DGP regarding leave policies, issued in 2019, many police personnel often faced challenges in obtaining permissions, leading to significant mental pressure.
However, in February this year, Kochi Police Commissioner S Syamsundar IPS issued a directive that officers within city limits are granted leave on special occasions such as birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
He implemented the change in less than a month after he took the reigns of the city police force. His proactive approach was acknowledged during a recent meeting of the police officers association.
This leave policy also sparked discussions after his speech went viral on social media. The policy will benefit police officers across the 27 stations and two traffic units within the city.
“As we know, Kochi city never sleeps and city policing is more complex, unlike rural policing which is more relaxed. City police officers often miss opportunities to spend time with their children as they leave for duty early and return late after their children are asleep. On festive days, city police officers often have to undertake double duties, leading to immense pressure and issues like depression and suicides among them,” Syamsundar told South First.
He also stated that there was nothing to worry about even when a police officer took a continuous leave of five days.
Annie Shiva, a Sub Inspector of Police at Vanitha Police Station in Ernakulam Central Sub Divisional Police Office (SDPO), said, “We positively welcome this policy as it would provide a good work-life balance.”
“Fort Kochi Police Station usually has a heavier workload. Even though our family members are mostly available on Sundays, we can’t always take leave as it is a holiday and we have a heavy workload. If personnel asks for emergency leave or leave on their wedding anniversary, top officials permit it. We hope this new leave policy will be utilised by more officers,’’ Senior CPO Sreejith of Fort Kochi Police Station told South First.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress which raised the issue in the legislative Assembly welcomed the move.
LoP Satheesan told South First that the Opposition raised concerns about suicides among cops.
“Our MLA moved a notice for an adjournment debate. We welcome such initiatives wholeheartedly and have great hope in officers like Syamsundar IPS to implement more humanitarian initiatives within the force. However, the Opposition will continue to raise its voice against this atrocity until the system makes a permanent correction”, he said.
The Kerala Police Union also welcomed the move.
“The commissioner exemplifies a humanitarian approach in his dealings with subordinates, setting a standard that should be adopted by more police stations across Kerala. These positive changes deserve greater recognition,” State President of Kerala Police Union SR Shinodas, told South First.
Does granting leave on occasion solve the purpose? “It does not,” says psychologists.
According to mental health experts, granting leave to celebrate an occasion is appreciable. However, they added that humans need breaks when they are physically, emotionally and mentally drained and highlighted that police personnel, including senior-level officers, were more vulnerable to severe stress.
“Even though such initiatives are welcome, the question is whether to take leave on the happiest or worst days of their lives. The condition is more severe than we think,” Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists Kerala Region President Dr Sany Varghese told South First.
“Unlike others, police personnel are exposed to many crucial scenarios. They encounter many sensitive situations like murder scenes, and violence and are needed to work tirelessly during emergencies, similar to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, where do they release the burden of these highly sensitive traumatic scenarios? There are no trauma processing units in the state,” Dr Varghese said.
Stating that such policies were introduced in the past, Dr Varghese added: “When I worked with the District Police chief in Kottayam long back, we listed officers who needed help and created a core group of officers suffering from suicidal tendencies, alcohol addiction, etc. Their families also became a part of this project but the problem is they lost continuity in availing of the service”
“A police official can’t go to a government hospital for this since registering their name in the psychiatric department may lead to further troubles in their professional life. To be specific, they are scared that the record at the hospital could be used against them as proof to label them as a psychiatric patient. Afraid of this, most of them fail to avail themselves of basic psychological services,” she said.
Dr Varghese also emphasised that the government should first change the outdated policies.
“Traumatic scenarios faced by police personnel need to be addressed with the help of a certified psychologist before it leads to severe psychiatric issues, which may ultimately lead to taking away their lives,” she said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
