In a video that has emerged recently, a woman in Mumbai is seen being talked out of committing suicide by police on the 18th floor of an under-construction building in Wadala area of the city last Friday.
According to The Hindu, the 32-year-old woman, working as a lawyer, was seen by a site supervisor standing at the edge of the building and apparently clicking selfies in the morning. While police arrived immediately after being informed, they were unable to convince her to step back as she threatened to jump if anyone came near her.
It was after a few hours that police called upon Inspector Shalini Sharma to assist them with the rescue effort.
While Sharma -– well-versed in hostage negotiation and crisis management – engaged in a prolonged dialogue with the woman, a constable, Bhushan Ramole, ultimately pulled her out of the danger zone.
The rescue operation finally ended at 3:30 pm, following which she was admitted to KEM hospital and eventually went home.
According to police, the woman was "upset as she was unable to get married".
Inspector Bhagwat Bansod of RAK Marg police station was also quoted by DNA as saying:
The lady later claimed that she was not trying to commit suicide but had gone to the building to click a few photographs. When she saw police, she thought she would be arrested as someone might have complained (against her) for entering the building.
Moreover, as per the DNA report, she has been advised psychiatric treatment.
The incident comes a month after a 24-year-old jumped to death from a prominent hotel building in Mumbai. Before taking the extreme step, the boy had uploaded a chilling video titled "How to Suicide" on Facebook.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)