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Heavy workload caused sergeant to shoot himself, says wife
The wife of the police sergeant who shot himself in the head inside the Kurunegala police station this week, said her husband regularly complained of being overworked.
Priyantha Rohini
50-year-old Priyantha Rohini told the Sunday Times her husband “did not have any family problems, but was exhausted due to his workload at the police station.”
Sergeant Jayasundara 52, a father of three, shot himself after he was ordered to take over security duties in Kurunegala town. The police sergeant had been ordered to take up another shift after being on duty from dusk to dawn at the police station on Friday (04).
“My husband always complained of overwork. He was fed up with it,” Rohini said.
“He left home that day saying he was going to work. I called him in the morning and asked about breakfast. He said he would buy it from office. He did not say anything about being on duty again,” she added.
Following the shooting, in which his head was severely injured, Sergeant Jayasundara was rushed to the
Sergeant Jayasundara receiving treatment
Kurunegala Teaching Hospital where surgery was performed. He is presently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.
Sources at the police station said Sergeant Jayasundara had been put on duty immediately after he had completed a 12-hour shift which caused him to lose his temper and shoot himself.
Police officials said he chose to end his life due to the pressure of work.
Before shooting himself the sergeant is said to have shouted at the Inspector of Police who ordered him to take up another turn of duty.
Other police personnel at the Kurunegala station too claimed their workload was stressful and that they were forced to work long hours and the station lacked basic facilities.
SI Mahinda Dissanayake of the Kurunegala police is conducting investigations.