The recent suicide of sub-inspector Ramakrishna Reddy, who had claimed in his suicide note that he was forced to take the extreme step owing to harassment from his superiors, had brought much disgrace to Telangana Police.
Adding insult to this injury was the claim of Nizamabad Additional Superintendent of Police Pratap Reddy, who was appointed to probe the suicide, that the deceased was unable to cope up with the department work and was depressed. This revelation came even before the medical reports of the suicide are out.
This move did not go down well with the department and the investigating officer was soon removed. DGP Anurag Sharma and DIG Akun Sabarwal have been appointed to probe the case.
Although there was a suicide note left by Ramakrishna, holding nine of his superiors, including DySP Sreedhar and Circle Inspector Venkatiah, responsible for his suicide, there were objections to taking this as evidence as many in the department claimed that the note was written under pressure.
The police officers, who were named by the deceased, have been asked to report directly to SP Chandrashekar Reddy.
Ramakrishna, who was posted at Kuknoorpally police station, had committed suicide with his service revolver on August 17 when his wife and two children had gone to his in-law's place. His family members claimed that Ramakrishna's superiors were pressurising him to give Rs 15 lakh as bribe. According to sources, the night before he turned the gun on himself, Ramakrishna had told his wife that he was under pressure to arrange some money.
The family members also said his colleagues are afraid to speak up as “it was the system that killed him” and urged the state government to ensure a fair probe.
Ramakrishna’s brother Som Reddy said the deceased was depressed for 15 days before his death and used to call him up regularly and complain about his superiors.
Ramakrishna was a native of Bakkamantram Gudem village in Mathampally madal of Nalgonda district. Before joining the police force in 2005, he was in the army.
