Surat: In an unusual case, a 37-year-old stock broker killed himself by inhaling the toxic carbon monoxide and other hydrogen gases using an oxygen mask inside his car near Soham Circle in Althan area on Thursday night.
On the rear seat, police found two folded paper printouts with ‘Poison. Carbon monoxide inside. Don’t open the door. Call the police’ written in bold. A one-line suicide note purportedly left behind by the victim Sandeep Dalmia that was also found in the car stated that no one should be held responsible for his suicide.
Along with Dalmia’s body on the rear seat, police also found two gas cylinders. Both cylinders had H and CO writen on them which led police to suspect that Dalmia inhaled a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. “The gas bottles will be sent for forensice examination to confirm its contents. He had attached two tubes from the cylinders to an oxygen mask and inhaled gases,” said a police officer at Khatodara police station.
Though it looks like suicide, police have launched a detailed investigation into the case. Police are also probing if Dalmia had the knowledge about toxic gases or he learned it to kill himself.
“It seems that he had planned to put these papers near the car’s glass to warn people if anyone came to his rescue. But he reportedly fainted before displaying them,” said police.
Carbon monoxide is used by metal fabricators, especially in the Surat-Vapi belt, to treat rusted recycled steel and other material.
Cops were alerted by locals who saw a man lying unconscious inside a locked car and. Arriving on spot, police searched Dalmia’s address and called his father Bajrang, who ame there with the car’s duplicate key. Dalmia was sent to hospital where he was declared dead on admission. His body had turned red and his face was swollen.
Dalmia went out for work on December 30 and did not return home since then. He used to go out for work for two to three days often, so his family members were not worried and did not try to search for him. “After it turned dark, Dalmia must have parked his car at the spot and ended life. It is yet not clear where he was during the last two days,” police added.
Dalmia lived with his father, wife and two children. Family members told police that there were no disputes within them and they were unaware if Dalmia was facing any financial crisis. Dalmia never complained about any tension in the recent past.