Agra: A 32-year-old Flight Lieutenant reportedly died by suicide at his air force station accommodation in Uttar Pradesh's Agra late on Monday night, officials said. The deceased was identified as Deendayal Deep from Bihar and was stationed at the Kheria More air base here in the district.
The incident came to light on Tuesday morning when his colleagues came looking for him as he did not report to the morning duty. Police said the service personnel broke into his room as attempts to elicit a response for their knocks did not fructify. They found the Flight Lieutenant unconscious on the bed. They moved him to the hospital in the vicinity where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Shahganj police was alerted and they collected the corpse of the Flight Lieutenant and sent it for a post-mortem examination at a government hospital in the district.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the IAF officer was last seen with his colleagues and friends with whom he had dinner together. "There was nothing unusual in his behaviour," the police quoted his friends and colleagues as saying. "After dinner, we departed to our rooms as usual. But, Deep did not wake up next morning," they said.
Police said the Air Force has launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of death, while adding that prima-facie case of suicide.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Agra City, Suraj Rai said they received the information about the unfortunate incident at the Air Force station and a team was dispatched to attend the case. "The deceased Deendayal Deep hails from Morara village in Bihar," he said.
"When his colleagues discovered that Deendayal Deep did not wake up Tuesday morning, they went to his room only to find him in an unconscious state. They broke the door to retrieve him, but it was too late."
Rai said the investigation has revealed that the lieutenant did not show any signs of abnormality when he was last seen with his colleagues while having dinner. He said they have not found anything specific yet which triggered him to take the drastic step.
His wife Captain Renu Tanwar who was attached to Military Nursing Service was away in Delhi, for a family medical emergency. She was posted in a military hospital in Agra. On Tuesday night, the Captain too has taken the drastic step in Delhi.
Suicide is not a solution
If you are having suicidal thoughts or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 044-24640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences helpline - 9152987821 (available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm).
(Editor's Note: This copy has been updated to add details of the deceased IAF officer and also about his wife.)
