In a tragic incident on January 31, 2025, Sub-Inspector A.G.S. Murthy of the Tanuku Rural Police Station in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, died by suicide. He reportedly used his service revolver to shoot himself in the station’s washroom. Murthy had been placed on Vacancy Reserve (VR) three months prior due to allegations of dereliction of duty but was temporarily reinstated for security arrangements related to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to Penugonda. He retrieved his service revolver from the Bhimavaram police depot on Thursday in preparation for his assignment.
This incident highlights a concerning trend of suicides among police personnel in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Factors such as job-related stress, personal issues, and financial difficulties are believed to contribute to these tragedies. In response, police departments in the region have initiated measures to support officers’ mental health, including designating counselors and senior officers to provide assistance. If internal mechanisms are insufficient, professional counselors are engaged to offer psychological support.
The Andhra Pradesh government is expected to review policies regarding police mental health, workload, and support systems in light of the increasing number of suicides among officers.
