Suicide due to "private issues", says TN CM

The recent suicides by two police personnel here were due to "private issues," Chief Minister K Palaniswami said today.

The government was, however, implementing various measures to address the work pressure of the personnel, he informed the state assembly during a debate on the budget presented last week.

Palaniswami, who holds the Home portfolio, said the suicide of Armed Reserve constable M Arunraj at the Jayalalithaa memorial at the Marina and that of sub-inspector Sathish Kumar at Ayanavaram here were due to "private issues."

Both of them killed themselves using their service weapons, he said, intervening when DMK member P Ranganthan raised the issue.

 

"Probe into the two incidents reveal both committed suicide due to their (respective) private issues," he said.

Both committed suicide early this month.

The chief minister said all due steps were, however, being implemented to ensure that police personnel in the state did not suffer from work pressure.

This included the mandatory weekly 'rest' (off), eight hour work shift in cities to the maximum extent possible, and providing them with regular yoga and exercise regime,he said.

A private hospital was conducting regular medical checkup camps for police personnel and members of their families at the police quarters, he said.

In a separate statement, he listed the various measures to ensure law and order situation in the state and pointed out that Tamil Nadu was the first one to induct transgenders in the police force.

Among others, the state stood out in terms of security for women, with the state having a crime ratio rate of 10.7 per cent against women while the national average was 51.4 per cent, he said.