Cantt police constable ends life,alleges harassment by duty officer

“My husband used to regularly complain of harassment by his duty officer (DO) of the Cantonment police station where he was posted. He said that the DO regularly harasses and abuse him for no rhyme or reason and even demands money. On January 15,he came home depressed and said that he is tired of being insulted and also said that he might leave the police force. The DO also repeatedly gave bad remarks on his official reports,” his widow Maya Musale told this paper on Tuesday.

In his suicide note,addressed to the Deputy Commisioner of Police,Musale said,“The DO makes money sitting in his office. He has also managed to get plum postings in his career. He does not understand that everyone in the police force does not make money. I have to manage my house hold expenses in the meagre salary I get. He is taking undue benefits of the position he holds and harasses me. The DO also sends bad remarks on the annual reports which would affect my professional career.”

“Primary investigation points out that Musale had consumed poision,” said Satish Khandare,Deputy Commissioner of Police.

“On the morning of January 18,my husband was writing something on a sheet of paper. I requested him have breakfast and kept the papers aside.

I didn’t know that he was writing his suicide note. On January 19 when I got up around 5.30 in the morning,I saw my husband was unconscious and had vommited. We immediately took him to a hospital in Shivajinagar. When we went to the police they asked if my husband had left a suicide note. That’s when I searched the house and found it,” said Maya.