UP Police rescue youth in 8 minutes after Meta flags suicide post
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Meerut: A 25-year-old man's life was saved after the Meerut Police swiftly responded to a suicide alert sent by Meta following an Instagram post, reaching him within eight minutes and ensuring he received urgent medical treatment, officials said on Monday.
The incident highlights the coordination mechanism between the Uttar Pradesh Police and Meta, under which social media posts indicating possible self-harm are flagged and shared with law enforcement authorities for immediate intervention.
According to a police statement, the youth, a resident of the Sardhana area in Meerut, uploaded a video on Instagram on June 7 in which he appeared to be consuming a white-coloured liquid. The video was accompanied by the message, "Ab tum khush rehna apni life mein" (Now you stay happy in your life).
Meta sent a suicide alert regarding the post to the Social Media Centre at the Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters at 6:53 pm. Acting on the directions of the Director General of Police, the centre immediately shared the information with the Meerut Police using the available mobile number and location details.
Under the supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police, a police team from Sardhana reached the youth's residence within eight minutes and found him in a critical condition. Officials said a bottle containing a suspected liquid substance was also found near him.
With the assistance of family members, police personnel rushed the youth to a nearby hospital, where his condition improved after receiving treatment.
During questioning, the youth revealed that he had been experiencing stress and depression following the end of a relationship, which led him to take the extreme step.
Police said counselling was subsequently provided to both the youth and his family members, and necessary guidance was offered.
The Uttar Pradesh Police noted that the coordination mechanism with Meta has been operational since 2022, enabling authorities to receive alerts about suicide-related posts on Facebook and Instagram and intervene promptly.
According to police data, action taken on such alerts between January 1, 2023, and May 31, 2026, has helped save the lives of 3,011 people across Uttar Pradesh.
With PTI inputs