DySP Ganapathy’s suicide leads to widespread agitation in Karnataka

CM Siddaramaiah on Friday ordered a CID inquiry into the incident. Urging the Opposition parties not to politicise the issue, Siddaramaiah told newsmen that action would be initiated after the report of the CID inquiry was received. 

“The government is taking all steps to find out the truth,” he added. In less than a week, two deputy Superintendent of Police have committed suicide in the state. Ganapathy had committed suicide on Thursday at a lodge in Madikeri after giving an interview to a private television channel. Earlier another DySP Kalappa allegedly committed suicide in Belgavi. Declining to tender his resignation, George said that, “I am not the reason for Ganapathy’s death.  There is no question of resigning.” 

BJP leaders and workers staged protest at Madikeri and in the state capital alleging that the Siddaramaiah government had lost control over the functioning of the police department. Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader R Ashok alleged that, “There seems to be no protection to police who are expected to protect the public. How can we expect protection from a police officer who himself is suffering from harassment by higher officials?” Former minister and Lok Sabha member Shobha Kharandlje, holding the state government directly responsible for Ganapathy committing suicide, demanding CBI inquiry into the issue to unearth the truth. 

Opposition leader in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, speaking to newsmen at Hubballi, demanded resignation of minister George as he was named by Ganapathy before taking the extreme step.  Ganapathy’s brother Thammaiah, has stated at Madikeri that he (Ganapathy) was undergoing treatment at MS Ramaiah Hospital for mental depression. 

However, contradicting to this, Pavana, wife of the deceased, has stated that her husband was not under depression and harassment by the higher officials has forced him to commit suicide.

The BJP agitators at Madikeri where Ganapathy’s body was sent for postmortem, blocked the ambulance in which Ganapathy’s body was being transported and demanded the resignation of George and action against IPS officers including Lokayukta ADGP P Mohanti and DG AH Prasad who were named in the suicide letter left behind by Ganapathy. 

Police pacified them and the body was taken to Ganapathy’s native village of Rangasambdra for last rites.