Constable shoots self on duty in Madhubani district

PATNA: A 40-year-old police constable committed suicide by shooting himself with the rifle of a havildar in Madhubani district on Monday. He was on duty and inside the police camp set up at the government school for a village fair at Sibaul under Patauna police outpost in the district.
The deceased Ranjit Kumar was a native of Ratanbigha under Kurtha police station area in Arwal district.Madhubani SP Satya Prakash said on hearing the gunshot, other police personnel rushed to the camp and found Ranjit lying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to the Bisfi government hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. The rifle used in the incident was also seized from the spot.
The SP said Ranjit was appointed a constable in Bihar police in 2013. He had returned to the police lines only three days ago. The family members told the senior police officers that Ranjit was undergoing treatment for his anxiety disorders for the last couple of years. He also had some family issues. “We are trying to find out the exact cause which prompted Ranjit to commit suicide,” he said, adding that the family members were informed about the incident.
Ranjit is survived by his wife and a 10-year-old son. The SP clarified that the deceased was not issued any licensed weapon and he used a colleague’s rifle to end his life.
The incident has left his colleagues shocked. “He remained calm and cool for most of the time. What happened today is subject to investigation,” said a police constable deputed at the police lines.
Earlier, the SP along with Benipatti SDPO visited the spot and inquired about the incident. The SP also quizzed the havildar whose rifle was used by Ranjit to commit suicide.
This is not an isolated case of a policeman committing suicide while on duty. Earlier, constable Keshav Prasad, deputed at the official residence of Patna Sadar SDO Kumari Anupama Singh, had shot himself dead with his service SLR on June 21 this year. Keshav, a native of Aurangabad district, was on sentry duty when he committed suicide.
Another constable Bidur Tanti 922), who was undergoing training at Jehanabad, had committed suicide. A woman constable, Sneha Kumar, who was posted in Siwan district, had also committed suicide in the official quarters at the police lines. She was a resident of Munger district.
“Workload and poor living condition besides family issues are among the reasons behind cops committing suicide in the state,” a senior police officer said.