Constable shoots self inside car in Vikhroli

A constable allegedly shot at himself late last night with a revolver inside his car, near the Eastern Express Highway at Vikhroli. He was found with two gunshot wounds in the chest. The motive behind his action is not known.

It is believed the cop, identified as Sanket Sunil Sawant, fired two bullets at himself. He is a resident of the police quarters behind Ramabai Colony in Ghatkopar.

The cops on patrol duty took him to the government-run Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, where he was undergoing an operation at the time of going to press.

He was identified after cops found his Aadhaar card in his vehicle, cops said.

The incident came to light when a patrol van of the Vikhroli police spotted the parked car at the highway at Vikhroli around 11.30 pm. They halted their vehicle to inquire about the stationary car, whose engine was running, from the driver.

But failing to get a response, they had to open the car door. That's when they saw an injured man, along with a revolver. Music was blaring from the car speakers when they found him.

Officials claim that the incident took place at around 11 pm. They are yet to ascertain which police station he belongs to. Theincident raises concerns amid a spate of suicides by policemen.

‘Accidental' police deaths
Name: Ranjit Kumar Sahay (52)
Designation: Additional Director General, State Police Housing Dept
When: September 15, 2013
Where: At his residence in Malabar Hill
How: Sahay sustained 60 per cent burns (The incident is still shrouded in mystery)
Why: Reason unknown
Status: A senior police officer supervising the case, requesting anonymity, said, "Though the inquiry is under process, prima facie it seems to be a case of accidental death. If we do not come across anything substantial in the coming days, the matter would be closed."

Name: Sanjay Banerjee (47, in picture)
Designation: DCP, Anti-Terrorism Squad
When:March 23, 2013
Where: At Goa Portuguesa restaurant, Ghodbunder Road, Thane
How: Banerjee shot himself with his service revolver
Why: Reason unknown
Status: Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) Balasaheb Patil said, "We have come across some discrepancies in statements of witnesses. Hence, have asked for some clarifications from the forensic experts before we can ascertain, if it was accidental or suicidal. The findings will then be discussed with superior officers."

Name: Vinod Bhatt (54)
Designation: ACP, State Anti-Terrorism Squad
When: August 28, 2006
Where: Between Dadar and Matunga railway station
How: Bhatt was run over by a suburban local train between Dadar and Matunga railway station
Why: Reason unknown
Status: Senior Police Inspector (GRP, Dadar) said, "It was an accidental death."

168
Number of police personnel who have ended their lives from 2002 to 2012u00a0