Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 24: Retired assistant police sub-inspector, Narayana Maniyani (63) committed suicide at Thokkottu near here. His body was found from a room in Hotel Vrindavan at Thokkottu on Tuesday December 23 night. It is learnt that he had approached the hotel on Tuesday evening, seeking to hire a room. He was allotted room No 285 there, but soon he was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside this room.

It is gathered that Maniyani came from the city to Kolya in car on Tuesday evening, got down there, and asked the driver to contact him again at 10 pm. The driver reached the village as per instructions at 10 pm. When he tried to contact Maniyani, the cell phone of Maniyani was found to be unreachable. When he made efforts to find out Maniyani's whereabouts by making enquiries, the driver got information that he had gone to Vrindavan Lodge. The driver went to the lodge, after calling the eldest son of Maniyani to come there. Maniyani's son too rushed there, and knocked at the room's door. When the knocks went unanswered, the door of the room was broken open. It was found that Maniyani was hanging from the roof.

It was found that Maniyani had used a newly purchased rope and scissors for committing suicide. Although two sheets of paper were found lying inside the room, no death notes were found. Therefore, the concerned are groping in the dark about the issue which had brought so much pressure on the retired policeman.

Maniyani had worked in different police stations in the district and was a popular figure. He had won the President's Medal and the state award for meritorious service. He has left behind wife, two sons, and a daughter.

It is said that he was involved with chit fund and finance business, apart from operating tourist vehicles and venturing into media. Since a week, he was found to be depressed, but had never revealed to anyone the reason.

Maniyani had served the police department diligently, and had played a stellar role in hunting down Ripper Chandran, a notorious criminal who used to crush heads of people found alone and rob their belongings, and also in bringing out culprits behind the Goodujalu robbery involving assets worth over Rs 20 crore, unearthing fake currency rackets and seizure of note printing machines.

Maniyani had initially started to work in the forest department as fire watcher, with a pay of Rs 1.50 per day. After watching his fitness and earnestness, a forest officer named M S Shanu had confirmed him as a permanent employee at Jalsoor border with Kerala. After working in forest department between 1973 to 75, he joined police department as constable.

Maniyani, who was backed by an impressive track record, had ventured into media sector in September this year by setting up Kural Media Pvt Ltd and starting Daily News 10 tv news channel.

Health minisster, U T Khadar, senior police officials, and others visited the spot and offered condolences to the family members.

Ullal police have registered a case and begun investigation.