A probationary Sub-Inspector of Police committed suicide on Sunday in Ernakulam, allegedly due to work pressure.

The deceased has been identified as forty-one-year-old Gopan, who was posted at the North Police Station, Ernakulam. He was found hanging in a lodge near the police station at noon.

“As per preliminary information, work pressure prompted him to take the extreme step,” police officials told TNM.

Though a suicide note was reportedly found in the room which cited work pressure to be the reason, this was not confirmed by the police.

Gopan rented a room at the lodge on Saturday. When the room remained shut on Sunday, the lodge informed the police, who broke open the lock.

Police officials, including the Assistant Commissioner of Police, immediately rushed to the spot.

When asked if Gopan had been coming to work, the police said that for the last few weeks Gopan was working at CBCID Kochi.

Gopan is a native of Govinamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram. Previously, he used to work with the Excise department.

He joined the police department two years ago through the state Public Service Commission.

Gopan is survived by his wife and two children.

This is the second time that a police personnel has committed suicide in the state this month. On January 3, P M Thomas, an assistant sub-inspector at the Kadavanthra Police Station, Kochi was found hanging inside the station. According to the police, Thomas committed suicide due to mental trauma. He was an accused in a corruption case which was filed in 2008, and was pending before the Vigilance Court. He committed suicide when the trial in the case was scheduled to begin.