Cycle of depression led to Balvinder Singh's manic episode: experts

Hyderabad: Twenty-six-year-old Balvinder Singh, who was shot dead by the Karimnagar police on Tuesday morning, had a manic episode, stated psychiatrists in the city.
Psychiatrist Dr Naresh Vadlamani said, “He would be suffering from a bi-polar disorder.

The cycle of depression must have built up the stress factors, which led to a manic episode in him. It could be criticism from a well-wisher which must have hurt his self-esteem (as he was not able to clear the Civil Services prelims). Than others from the family must have tried to explain it to him, and he must have got threatened as no one was willing to listen to him and it could have spilled on to the streets.”

Psychiatrists say that such cases require deft handling and the police must also be made aware of such mental illnesses so that they do not act violently.

Senior psychiatrist Dr J. Reddy said, “The police could have got 10 to 15 men and pinned him down and taken him to the hospital. This way his life could have been saved. It is very important for the police to be made aware of these problems. Presently, they are not aware and hence such situations occur.”

Psychiatrists experts state that the illness is not much talked about and in the case of Balvinder Singh it could have been a taunt or criticism from a dear one, which could have triggered the manic episode.