Man attempts suicide; accuses police, lover's parents of harassment

A 30-year-old man tried to commit suicide in a park opposite the Mahalakshmi Layout police station on Friday.

He accused the police and his lover’s parents of harassing him. He even video recorded
his suicide attempt.

According to the police, Venugopal, a resident of Manjunath Nagar and a private company employee, consumed poison. Passersby found him lying down and frothing at his mouth. They informed the police and shifted him to a private Hospital, where he is said to be out of danger.

“He had written a letter stating that he was in a relationship with a girl. They liked each other but a few months back, she started ignoring him. In December 2016, he approached the girl and her parents and asked them to get her married to him. But her parents warned him not to trouble them and lodged a police complaint. The Mahalakshmi Layout police summoned him and warned him against disturbing the girl. Venugopal, who was dejected, tried to contact the girl but in vain. After a few days, he again went to the girl’s house and started shouting at her parents claiming that they had cheated him of Rs 3 lakh. Venugopal again approached her parents, who informed the police,” said a senior police officer.

“The police asked him to come to the station but Venugopal refused, saying he had not committed any crime. The police picked up Venugopal’s father Hanumantharaju and abused him and detained him at the police station for a whole day. Venugopal was depressed and humiliated after his father was summoned to the station. He accused the Mahalakshmi Layout police of mentally harassing and insulting his family,” added the officer.

The police said the girl’s parents had assured him that they would get his daughter married to him and had taken cash from him. But later, they decided to get her married to another person, which made Venugopal furious. Several of Venugopal’s friends and relatives gathered at the hospital and demanded justice and strict action against the police and the girl’s parents.

“A case has been registered. The Mahalakshmi Layout police will be questioned to check if they had tortured Venugopal. Action will be taken against the police, if they are found guilty. The girl’s parents will also be questioned,” said another police officer.