Two CRPF officers commit suicide in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Fearing he was infected with coronavirus, a CRPF sub-inspector (SI) killed himself in Anantnag district on Tuesday. In Srinagar, an assistant sub-inspector with the force also committed suicide the same day, but the reason behind his extreme step is yet to be known, Srinagar-based CRPF spokesperson Pankaj Singh said.
SI Fatah Singh, a resident of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, returned to his unit after a day-long duty at a checkpoint and shot himself dead with his service rifle in Anantnag’s Mattan area. Soon after Singh killed himself, his colleagues rushed to the spot and found him in a pool of blood. “They rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” said the spokesperson.
The SI, who was posted with CRPF’s 49 Bn at Akura, left behind a suicide note which stated: “No one should touch my body. I am afraid, I have corona.” Akura SHO Jazib Ahmed said, “His samples have been taken and a postmortem conducted. Only results would confirm if he was indeed Covid-positive.”
CRPF spokesperson said, “There is no evidence that Singh had contracted the coronavirus. We are waiting for the final report.” A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
Earlier in the day, an ASI of the force — identified as Bengali Babu (46) — killed himself in Srinagar’s Karan Nagar area after completing his daily duty at a checkpoint. Babu shot himself dead with his service weapon but the reason behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained, said the spokesperson.
The ASI, a resident of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, was also posted with CRPF’s 49 Bn housed near Neelam Cinema in Karan Nagar. “Babu neither appeared depressed nor did he leave behind a suicide note. His body will be sent home after the requisite formalities,” the spokesperson said.
CRPF special DG Zulfikar Hassan confirmed the deaths.