THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The suicide rates within the Kerala Police force are on the rise, with reports indicating that police personnel are taking their own lives due to intolerable work pressure and mental stress.
Intelligence reports reveal a distressing trend, with more than thirty policemen suicides and over a hundred police applying for voluntary retirement in every year. The morale of the police force has been severely impacted by the excessive pressure exerted by superior officers and politicians.
The report highlights the grim statistic that 78 police officers have taken their own lives in the last nine years. Additionally, over 4,000 policemen have sought treatment at the Police Counseling Center to cope with mental stress. Many police stations are operating with insufficient personnel, and even after repeated requests, the Home Ministry has failed to address this issue, leaving more than 7,000 posts vacant.
Adding to the hardships, numerous police stations lack basic amenities like restrooms and toilet facilities, forcing police personnel to work continuous 12- to 18-hour continuously. It is disheartening to note that at least ten policemen in each station are compelled to perform personal tasks for their superiors. Subordinates often face pressure from their superiors and politicians within the ruling party.
Furthermore, each police station must submit five copies of FIRs to the court, but the necessary requirements have not been provided by the department. For night patrolling, a minimum of four policemen is required, yet many police officers are subjected to overtime duties that go unrecorded.
Despite the increasing trend in suicides, the Home Ministry has remained silent. The department has only issued a vague circular to top police officials, suggesting awareness classes and yoga training for the police. However, this circular places additional pressure on the already overburdened police personnel, as it fails to allocate funds for these essential expenditures.
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