K’taka cop commits suicide by shooting himself, third case in recent months

In the third such case in recent months in Karnataka, a police official allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver at the Malur Police station in Kolar district on Tuesday.

In the third such case in recent months in Karnataka, a police official allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver at the Malur Police station in Kolar district on Tuesday.

Two police officers committed suicide in July, cases that created a political storm after one of the officers alleged harassment at the hands of senior officers. (Representative Photo/Shutterstock)

Thirty-eight-year-old Raghavendra Muniyappa, a circle inspector, returned to the police station after a night patrol and shot himself around 2am, police said.

The reason for Muniyappa’s extreme decision is, however, unknown, Kolar district superintendent of police, Divya Gopinath, said.

She added that police were investigating the matter.

Muniyappa’s death follows the two alleged police suicides in July which triggered a controversy.

Deputy superintendent in Mangaluru, MK Ganapathy’s death on July 13 had stirred a political storm for he blamed minister K J George and two top IPS officials for his suicide.

George resigned from his position minister amid the controversy, but was recently reinducted after the Karnataka CID cleared his and the two senior police officers.

Barely a week before, the body of deputy superintendet of Chikkamagaluru sub-division, Kallappa Handibag was found hanging in his father-in-law’s home at Murgod in Belagavi district on on July 5. Handibag was accused of kidnapping a person for ransom.