Coimbatore Range DIG Vijaykumar shoots himself to death
The IPS officer had been battling depression for some time and had confided in his colleagues about his sleeplessness in recent days. (Photo credit: India Today)
In a tragic incident, 45-year-old IPS officer Vijaykumar allegedly died by suicide at his residence in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, in the early hours of Friday morning (July 7).
Serving as the Deputy General of Police in the Coimbatore range, the officer shot himself around 6:15 am upon returning from his morning walk. Security personnel stationed at his residence promptly notified senior officers, and the body was subsequently transferred to Coimbatore Medical College for post-mortem examination.
According to the police, Vijaykumar had borrowed a firearm from a security official posted at his residence.
The motive
A report by India Today suggests that the former officer had been battling depression for some time and had confided in his colleagues about his sleeplessness in recent days.
He had been undergoing counseling, and his family had also been brought to Coimbatore a few days prior.
Who was Vijaykumar?
Vijaykumar, a 2009 batch IPS officer, had previously served as the Superintendent of Police in Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvar, and Anna Nagar before assuming the role of DIG in the Coimbatore range in January of this year.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin expressed his condolences upon learning of Vijaykumar's death. "I am shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of officer Vijaykumar. He has served in various capacities, including as Deputy Superintendent of Police. His passing is a significant loss to the Tamil Nadu Police Department. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends within the police force," said Stalin.