In a shocking incident Raghavendra, a Circle Inspector of Police at Malur station in Kolar District in Karnataka has allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself using his service revolver inside the police station on Tuesday early morning. This is the latest in a growing list of suicides committed by police officials in Karnataka. Raghavendra was a 2003 batch police officer and promoted as Circle Inspector two years back.
The spate of suicides of police officers one after the other has sent dented the image of ruling Government of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. After MK Ganapathy, who was a Deputy Superintendent of police from Mangalur had committed suicide in a lodge in Madikeri in Kodgau on July 7 and two days earlier Chikmagalur Deputy Police Superintendent Kallappa Handibag also killed himself in his father-in-law's home and the latest of Raghavendra has shaken the police department which is under tremendous pressure.
MK Ganapathy gave an interview to a local channel and named a Minister KJ George and two senior police officers before he committed suicide. The Opposition BJP demanded a CBI inquiry but a COD enquiry ordered by the State Government gave clean chit to all of them. George now back in the ministry and looking after Bengaluru’s infrastructure.