Tapan Yash (45), a resident of Arambagh in Hooghly, was posted to the Bauria police station nearly three years ago. Around 11.45 pm on Sunday evening, he returned to his quarters and spoke with his son, Kaushik, and wife Meena over the phone.

“He told them that he was suffering from depression and would commit suicide, following which he switched off his cellphone,” said a senior officer.

His family members intimated the Bauria police station and also the officer-in-charge. Around 1 am today, Tapan’s roommate, Khoka Bose, found the room locked from inside. On breaking down the door, Tapash was found hanging from the ceiling.

Tapash’s family has alleged that he used to be “mentally tortured” by Gautam Chatterjee, O-C of Bauria police station. “My father often told us that he was being mentally tortured by his senior. On Sunday, he said that he could not take the harassment any more and that he would commit suicide. After that he disconnected the call and took the extreme step,” said Kaushik.

He added: “Even as we informed all the other officers present at the (Bauria) station, no one took the matter seriously. My father had been frustrated and had attempted to commit suicide earlier also.”