Karnataka police constable fakes suicide attempt to avoid bandobast duty in Belagavi: Report

Karnataka constable Mudkappa Udagatti staged a suicide attempt by claiming to consume poison, but tests revealed no harmful substances.

A police constable from Karnataka’s Belagavi attempted to stage a suicide by allegedly consuming poison, only to have medical tests reveal that no harmful substance had been ingested.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when Mudkappa Udagatti, a constable assigned to bandobast duty. (GETTY (FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY))

What happened at the station?

According to a Deccan Herald report, the incident unfolded on Wednesday when Mudkappa Udagatti, a constable assigned to bandobast duty, returned to work after a two-day leave. Upon being tasked again with the same duty, Udagatti reportedly protested the assignment. In an attempt to express his dissatisfaction, he staged a dramatic scene, collapsing in the station premises and claiming he had consumed poison.

He was rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment, where doctors confirmed that no trace of poison had been found in his system, the report added. Udagatti was discharged later that evening. According to Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang, the constable had a heated argument with the station house officer regarding his deployment, which led to the dramatic incident.

Authorities are now investigating the motives behind Udagatti’s actions, which have raised questions about his intentions and the possible underlying issues within the station.

Recently, a Bengaluru policeman was found dead on railway tracks near Baiyappanahalli, just days after the suicide of a techie sent shockwaves through the city.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. A few major suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-23389090 from Sumaitri (Delhi-based) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based).