Negligence Under Scanner as Police Take 6+ Hours to Discover Body
A 60-year-old man named Arivolirajan, reportedly suffering from mental health issues, died by suicide inside the Bazaar Police Station in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Shockingly, his body was discovered more than six hours later, early Wednesday morning.
Timeline of Events
- Tuesday, 11 PM: CCTV footage shows Arivolirajan entering the Townhall Police Outpost, where he spent five minutes.
- He then went to Bazaar Police Station and told the on-duty sentry that “60 people are chasing me”.
- The sentry reportedly checked and found no immediate threat. He told Arivolirajan to return the next day.
- However, the sentry stepped away momentarily to attend a phone call.
- During this lapse, Arivolirajan climbed to the first floor, entered an unlocked sub-inspector’s room, and died by suicide using his dhoti and a ceiling fan.
Body Found Over 6 Hours Later
- The body was discovered Wednesday morning when the officer returned to his room after roll call and found the door locked.
- He broke it open and found Arivolirajan’s body.
- The body was sent for postmortem and will be handed over to the family after completion.
Negligence and Accountability
A senior official told a news agency that strict action would be taken against those found negligent, especially the sentry who briefly left his post. The incident has triggered internal inquiry procedures.
Political Fallout
The incident adds pressure on the DMK-led state government, which is already facing criticism over the law-and-order situation from rivals like the AIADMK and ally BJP.
BJP Spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said:
“It took almost nine hours for police to find a body inside their own station. That reflects the current state of policing.”
Also Read : “No Caste Discrimination in Water Access”: Madras High Court Orders Statewide Reform
