Constable ends life, seniors say no pressure at work

The deceased V Balamurugan, attached to the fifth battalion, Avadi, was posted at the Tamil Nadu Police Training College in Ashok Nagar.

Police sources said Balamurugan was on a four-day sick leave since May 10. However, he reported to duty on Sunday, a day before his leave ended, and went home at Podhigai Street in Neelankarai.

On early Monday morning, Balamurugan’s mother Kaliamma went to the bathroom, which is located just outside their house. There, she found her son hanging.

His body was recovered and rushed to the nearby private hospital, but he was declared brought dead. Later, his body was sent to the Royapettah Government Hospital for post-mortem examination and then handed over to his parents. Sources added that there was no suicide note found and there were no other injuries on his body.

Police are trying to ascertain why Balamurugan took the extreme step. Balamurugan, who had joined the police force in 2016, had no pressure or stress with regard to work, said an investigation officer. He was posted at the college due to ongoing exams for trainee policemen and his shift usually ended by 5 pm. 

There were no suspicious call records in his phone as well.

Balamurugan’s father Vijayan has been unwell for the past few years. It is said that Balamurugan’s parents recently started searching for a bride for him. However, he asked them to postpone it for a while. Besides his parents, Balamurugan is survived by an elder sister and a younger sister, both of whom are married. Further investigation is on.

The suicide was reported just a day after a policeman, who was working as the driver of Kancheepuram Deputy Superintendent of Police, was found dead on a railway track near Nathapettai between Walajabad and Kancheepuram railway stations.