Delhi Metro: suicide survivors to get a year in jail

To deter people from committing suicide in the metro, the Delhi Police have decided to register attempt to suicide cases against those who try to end their lives at stations.

To deter people from committing suicide in the metro, the Delhi Police have decided to register attempt to suicide cases against those who try to end their lives at stations.

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In the past two years, over 100 people have attempted suicide at different metro stations across Delhi and NCR, of which about 30 died while the rest were saved or survived.

Two people, who tried to commit suicide by jumping on the track, have been booked by the police.

Attempt to suicide is punishable by one year imprisonment under the Indian Penal Code. Though the police said they did not initiate action against the two survivors as it would aggravate their trauma, they want to create awareness that survivors will be punished.

"We do not want to increase their trauma but we want to take some kind of action to deter people from trying to end their lives at metro stations. Two cases have been registered under section 309 (attempt to suicide) of Indian Penal Code. The survivors were informed about it but no action was initiated," said a senior police officer, requesting anonymity.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have formed a ‘suicide watch’ team to prevent people from committing suicide by jumping in front of running trains. The team has saved at least 12 people from committing suicide.

"We have observed most people try to commit suicide by jumping on the track. In 2012, of the 66 suicides and attempt to suicide cases, 43 had jumped on the tracks. This prompted us to install cameras at the end of platforms and our staff keeps a constant watch on passengers," said a senior CISF official.

After 17 suicides and 49 suicide attempts in 2012, the CISF had asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to install CCTV cameras at the end of the platform. The CISF staff from the control room closely monitors the camera feed from these areas, specially just before the arrival of a train.