Instagram Post Helps UP Cops Foil College Student's Suicide Bid in 16 Minutes

A college student in Uttar Pradesh, India attempted to take her own life by consuming pesticide. Police intervened within 16 minutes of receiving an alert from Meta about the student's suicidal post on Instagram. The student was rescued and given first aid. Since January 2023, the Uttar Pradesh Police has saved 1,315 lives through alerts about suicide-related posts on Facebook and Instagram.

A 20-year-old BA first-year student in Uttar Pradesh, India, was rescued from a suicide attempt by the police within 16 minutes of receiving an alert from Meta about her suicidal post on Instagram. The incident underscores the effectiveness of the collaboration between the Uttar Pradesh Police and Meta, which has saved 1,315 lives since January 2023 [1].

The alert was triggered around 12:45 pm on August 31 when Meta flagged a post by the student, who had uploaded a photograph of pesticide tablets with a despairing caption. The post was immediately escalated to senior officers, and Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Krishna directed swift action [1].

Using the mobile number shared by Meta, the Bareilly police traced the student's location and rushed to her residence in the CB Ganj Police Station area. Within 16 minutes, a sub-inspector and women police personnel reached the location, finding the student vomiting and in distress. She was given first aid, and when her condition improved, she revealed that she had consumed pesticide, purchased by her father for farming, after a quarrel with a man she had befriended on Instagram [1].

The student's family was informed, and she is now recovering under medical supervision. No police case was registered. The incident highlights the growing importance of digital vigilance and mental health support for young users on social media platforms [2].

The Uttar Pradesh Police has had a system in place with Meta since 2022 to receive alerts on suicide-related posts on Facebook and Instagram. The partnership has proven life-saving, with alerts generated by Meta helping officers act within minutes [3].

References:
[1] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttar-pradesh-police-suicide-student-college-meta-facebook-instagram-notifications-2780475-2025-09-02
[2] https://www.news18.com/india/an-instagram-post-a-meta-alert-a-16-minute-race-to-save-a-life-how-up-cops-foiled-a-suicide-bid-ws-kl-9544143.html
[3] https://www.sakshipost.com/news/national/meta-and-police-collaboration-prevents-1315-suicides-uttar-pradesh-447594