The shortage of manpower among the ranks of the Mumbai police is coming back to haunt it in a brutal way. Information recieved under the Right to Information reveals that in the last five years, more policemen have died of cardiac arrests — probably triggered by stress — than as a result of encounters with gangsters etc. In fact, even tuberculosis killed more policemen than bullets, the RTI plea has shown.
Statistics submitted by the commissioner of police’s office in answer to a query by one Vihar Durve has revealed that between 2005 and 2010 (as of March), the highest number of deaths of policemen is caused by cardiac arrest. The work pressure, tension, irregular eating hours due to uncertain duty hours and the workload adds up to the policemen succumbing to heart failure. The percentage is ever increasing. In 2005, out of 177 working policemen who died, 42 died due to heart attacks and in 2009, 42 out of 156 police died of heart attacks.
Second to cardiac arrest is TB caused by poor hygiene conditions, lack of nutritious food and excessive work was the cause of death of policemen. Despite all the vaccinations and medicine available, policemen continue to fall prey to the disease as the fluctuating figures over the years have proved, contradicting the claims of the government that the disease is actually under control in cities.
While cancer does take a toll, jaundice apparently is more frightening to policemen. Jaundice, a disease caused by the over-consumption of liquor, non-vegetarian food and a lack of rest and sleep, causes a lot of deaths among policemen, the statistics show. The problem of manpower once again arises as senior policemen agreed that policemen are unable to get proper treatment and rest after contracting the disease, since thir leaves are cancelled due to the shortage of manpower.
A significant number of policemen also committed suicide. But, after consistent efforts by the state, especially after the 2008 terror attacks, only one policeman committed suicide in 2009. However, it is surprising that a small number of policemen die in encounters with gangsters. The only time a substantial number of policemen died was in the 26/11 terror attacks.