LUCKNOW: An SOS sent by Facebook to the social media centre at DGP headquarters, UP Police, about a NEET aspirant in Lucknow ending life by consuming poisonous substance around 3.25am on September 8, helped the cops to reach the scene and save his life.
It was only possible as Uttar Pradesh police and social networking site Facebook have entered an agreement to save precious lives through real-time alerts and action to check cases of suicide.
As per the agreement, any person who submits social media posts on intention to commit suicide, the site concerned will issue an alert to the UP Police control room and help will be rendered immediately.
Additional director general, law and order, Prashant Kumar, said the information was immediately sent to the Lucknow police commissionerate and they were asked to work in the case.
“We have directed all the policemen to respond quickly to social media posts related to suicide and save the lives of persons who post such messages. Facebook has partnered with us so that we can respond immediately,” Kumar said.
Additional CP (West) Chiranjeev Nath Sinha immediately reached the house of the man identified as Madan Verma (29) who had posted the message to end his life.
The man admitted that he had committed a mistake and promised not to repeat such a thing in future.
“Verma told police that he took the step due to mental tension he was facing after not being able to qualify NEET and he was counselled that it was not the end of life. We have provided him the police mobile number and asked him to feel free in calling up whenever he has any problem,” said Sinha.
A senior police official said that Facebook used to send an alert to UP Police whenever somebody posts a message regarding suicide. He said the police had saved lives of several persons in the past after taking cognizance of the alerts.
Recently, Prayagraj police saved the life of a man who had posted on Facebook that he was about to end his life. (IANS)
