Heroic Hoysala cop saves youth's life

Bengaluru: In an incident straight out of the movies, an alert police officer patrolling in his brand new Ertiga Hoysala patrol vehicle heroically saved a 20-year-old student from committing suicide in Jalahalli on Monday morning.

Around 11 am, Police Constable Yeshwanth, who was in Hoysala Vehicle No. 150, was going about his partrolling work when he witnessed an unusual sight. A youth was walking briskly towards an oncoming train in an obvious attempt to commit suicide.

Yeshwanth, who was nearly 800 metres away from the youth – who was later identified as Charan, realised that he could not run up the bridge and save the youngster. In a flash, he drove the vehicle right under the bridge where Charan was walking, switched on the siren in the vehicle, switched on the loudspeaker and started calling out to Charan to step away from the tracks.

The train driver, who heard the commotion, and also saw people lining up on the road, realised something was amiss. He peeped out of his cabin to see the youngster on the track. He immediately slammed the brakes, bringing the Shivamogga-Bengaluru passenger express to a screeching halt, but not before banging on Charan’s head. Charan, a diploma student, suffered only minor bruises on his forehead.

Yeshwanth then counseled Charan, spoke to his brother over phone and called for an 108 Ambulance. Charan was then shifted to M.S. Ramaiah Hospital for first aid for the bruises on the forehead.

“Charan, a diploma student, is a resident of Chamundi Layout in Vidhyaranapura. He was depressed over his poor academics and wanted to end his life,” said Yeshwanth. “I counseled him and also requested the ambulance technician to inform the doctors on counseling the youth,” he said.

Passersby and train passengers immediately went into a rapturous applause for the constable for his presence of mind and saving the youngster’s life.