Man Takes Own Life After Detention; Suicide Note Claims Police Harassed Him In Custody

A 30-year-old man has died by suicide in India after allegedly being harassed in police custody.

The man, identified only by his first name Ramesh, was arrested on theft charges in the state of Rajasthan on Sept. 22. He was released after posting bail the following day.

However, he was later called again by the officers who wanted to conduct further investigation. The police held him in a cell all night, Times of India said in a report. Ramesh then took the drastic measure and tied a noose to a tree near the Jawaja Police Station and hung himself.

A diary, which contained a suicide note, was found in Ramesh's pocket. Written using coloring materials, the note claimed he was harassed in police custody. A message was also written on the pants he was wearing. It said he wanted the investigation into the incidents to be carried out by the Delhi Police, reported TimesNow.

Furious at the incident, the villagers who lived near Ramesh's home refused to take his body after the post-mortem was completed. They wanted action to be taken against the accused police officers first.

Ramesh's funeral was held Saturday after officers assured the villagers of an investigation.

A complaint was registered and the Police Superintendent Ajmer removed assistant sub-inspector Kishan Singh from the Jawaja Police Station. The removal was confirmed by the Jawaja Police Department's station house officer, Manvendra Bhati.

According to Bhati, an investigation into the case has been launched.

Last week, a widow from Bengaluru, India, tried to hang her two daughters aged 8 and 12 before taking the same step in a suspected suicide pact. However, the 8-year-old changed her mind and was able to escape at the last moment. She then alerted her neighbors, who were able to save the mother but not the 12-year-old girl. The mother, who had a physical disability that prevented her from working, reportedly got depressed after her husband passed away due to COVID-19. Worried about her daughters' future, the woman reportedly entered a suicide pact with the children.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.