Dalit cop in Rajasthan kills self, alleging harassment by superiors, journalist

Jaipur: A Dalit man with over two decades of service in Rajasthan police force, allegedly committed suicide on Thursday, stirring up protest by Dalit right activists.

Babu Lal Bairwa left home on the morning of August 22 to work at the Bhankrota police station in Jaipur but later was found hanging inside a police outpost, The Wire reported.

His family members said they received call from his friends in the police force saying the cop in his mid-40s had posted a suicide note in their WhatsApp group.

“A batchmate of my father called us to say that my father had posted a suicide note in their WhatsApp group and they are presently searching for him. They later found out that he had [died by] suicide by hanging himself inside the police outpost,” Tanuj, Bairwa’s son was quoted as saying.

Bairwa also a left message for his son in the note:“Son, keep courage … My hands are shaking as I am writing this note, and I am crying. I cannot live anymore. Ensure your mother takes medicines and you don’t get angry … Your father has not done anything wrong and I am committing suicide after being harassed too much by these four people. Take care of your two elder sisters.’ Bairwa in his note held three police officers and a journalist responsible for his death.

Bairwa claimed that few police officers including him were suspended last year over land dispute case and he alleged that he was harassed by the accused.

The FIR registered following the complaint by his son Tanuj said: ‘For the last one year, pressure was being mounted on my father by ACP Anil Sharma, additional SP Jagdish Vyas, sub-inspector Aashutosh Singh and journalist Kamal Degda, who were harassing him. Because of these officers, my father was going through immense mental stress and he had spoken about this to us and his acquaintances.’

The suicide note also addressed to Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma claiming that journalist Kamal Degda addressed him as someone belonging to the ‘lower caste’.

Tanuj, a college student told The Wire that his father was repeatedly harassed by the police officers and the journalist and ‘he had gone asking for relief to many people including deputy chief minister Prem Chand Bairwa but the harassment didn’t stop. We want justice and action against all the accused, including the police officers.’

The suicide note ended with the slogan ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Hind, Jai Bharat’.

Following his death, Dalit rights activists and family members took to protesting near the mortuary of the SMS Hospital in Jaipur, refusing to cremate his body.

Dalit rights activist Geegraj Jodli said: ‘We want that all the accused including the police officers to be arrested, compensation of Rs 2 crore to the family along with government jobs to two members of the family. Bairwa was forced to commit suicide due to the constant harassment.’