Bangalore: Nervous cops manage to 'net' mentally ill man

A man, suspected to be mentally ill, climbed on to the top of the house of a corporator, and when detected, threatened to jump, and finally did, after edgy policemen and fire force men provided a safety net.

The drama took place in JP Nagar. Some residents noticed a person moving suspiciously and informed the police, but the man disappeared by the time police reached the spot. Later, he was seen trying to remove a water tap at a compound. He fled when the inmate of the house raised an alarm, only to climb a coconut tree next to the house of Corporator B Somashekhar.

He lowered himself on to the terrace of Somasekhar’s house. When the residents gathered near the house, the man brandished a knife and threatened to end his life, if anyone approached him.

Police and Fire & Emergency Services personnel were called in. For two hours, they tried to dissuade him from jumping, while they brought in a safety net in case he did. After spreading the net to break his fall, the police and Fire men tried to get on to the terrace to reach him.

Seeing them, the man jumped down on to the net, sending the two-hour long drama.

“He suffered minor injuries. We admitted him to Nimhans to establish his mental health status.
He has refused to reveal his name,’’ said Manoj Kumar, Inspector of Police, JP Nagar Police Station.

The police have registered a case under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code (attempt to commit suicide).