When Anand A (24) from Peppara, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, asked his mother what he should become in life, her answer was always the same: “Be a policeman, Achu. Then all our hardships will end.” His elder brother, Aravind, shared that dream and took on the family’s financial burdens, allowing Anand—who belonged to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community—to focus on studies.

Anand worked relentlessly, studying day and night for a year without coaching, depending only on books and online videos. His efforts paid off when he cleared the Civil Police Officer (CPO) exam in his very first attempt. But just three months into training at the Special Armed Police (SAP) Camp, Peroorkkada, Anand was found dead on September 18.

“The officers say he committed suicide. I can’t believe that,” says Aravind. “He loved this job and worked too hard for it. He had told us about caste-based harassment at the camp, but always said he could manage. I don’t know what happened now.”

Hours before his death, Anand had spoken normally with his mother, Chandrika, enquiring about home. Yet by mid-morning, the family was informed he was found hanging at the barracks.

This was not the first sign of distress. Two days earlier, Anand had attempted to cut his wrists. Though camp officials initially downplayed the injuries, his family later learned he had required multiple stitches. "We visited him at the camp. He was wearing a full-sleeve shirt, buttoned. We were not able to see his wounds. When urged to take leave, he insisted he would be fine. He was clearly hiding something, maybe out of fear,” recalls Aravind.

The family’s struggles began much earlier. Their father, Ashokan, died of cancer 12 years ago, after which their mother, Chandrika, raised the children by stitching clothes and doing plantation work at the nearby forest station. Aravind gave up his own studies to support the family, taking up painting jobs so that Anand could pursue his dream. Anand studied history at SN College, Chempazhanthy, but after failing to complete the course, he worked briefly at petrol stations and malls before preparing full-time for the PSC competitions, later exclusively for the CPO exam.

“He put his whole heart into it,” says Aravind. “I would return from work late at 1 am or 2 am and find him still studying. At dawn, he’d be out jogging to prepare for the physical test. We were proud when he got selected. For us, it was the light at the end of years of hardship.”

Even then, Aravind recalls Anand hinting at harassment during training. “He never gave details, but mentioned teasing and insults from superiors. During his Onam leave, too, he avoided specifics, though we knew something was troubling him.”

The family refuses to accept that Anand simply gave up. “He used to criticise people who ended their lives. He was disciplined and finished all tasks on time. Officers told us that his daily notes were finished. Is that the behaviour of someone planning suicide?” asks Aravind. “Now, some officers are even trying to spread lies that he was mentally ill. That is unbearable.”

The Peroorkkada police have registered a case of unnatural death (section 194) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and begun recording statements. “While the other trainees were out for the morning parade, Anand was excused from duty due to his earlier suicide attempt. A team member had been assigned to watch over him, but when the officer briefly stepped away to the toilet, he took his life by hanging,” an official from the station said.

Meanwhile, Anand’s family is planning to submit complaints to the Chief Minister and top police officials, demanding answers. “We want justice,” says Aravind. “He was just 24, our only hope. We need to know the truth so that no other family suffers like us.”

The case echoes a 2019 incident at the Armed Reserve Police camp in Palakkad, where Civil Police Officer N K Kumar, who belongs to a tribal community, died by suicide after enduring caste-based harassment. The Crime Branch recently filed a chargesheet against seven officers, including a deputy commandant.

Onmanorama contacted Yogesh Mandhaiya, Commandant, SAP, for a comment on the suicide of the trainee. He refused to comment. Other officials at the camp said that they are not authorised to talk about the incident.