Naktideula: In a shocking incident, a 1st SS Battalion jawan, engaged at Kisinda police station under this block in Sambalpur district, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself using his rifle over unknown reasons on the wee hours of Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Amir Kumar Sahu, 36, of Saradhapali village under Gaisilet police limits in Bargarh district. The incident has spread shock waves in the area.
Due to the rise in Maoist violence in the area, Sahu had been posted at Kisinda police limits in Sambalpur district since last six years. Like every other day, Sahu was on duty from 4AM at the police station building terrace, sources said.
However, over reasons best known to him, Sahu fired three rounds on himself that struck his throat; leading to his death on the spot. Hearing the bullet shots, other jawans on duty rushed to the terrace only to find him dead in a pool of blood.
On the other hand, residents were taken in terror, assuming some Maoist activity, on hearing the shots fired. They remained indoors until it was known that the jawan had committed suicide by firing himself. Later, there was a huge gathering outside the police station.
On receipt of the information, Redhakhol SDPO Hadibandhu Swain, 1st Battalion Commander and Kisinda IIC Dharmendra Shanti reached the spot and launched a probe. In the presence of Naktideula tehsildar and magistrate in-charge Ijlus Binay Kukuling, the body was seized and sent for autopsy to Redhakhol sub-divisional hospital (SDH).
Later, it was handed over to family members for final rites. A case of unnatural death was registered and a probe into the reason of the jawan’s extreme step was launched. We suspect, Sahu to have taken the extreme step due to some family problems, but a probe is on to ascertain the exact reason, IIC Swain said.
The incident comes in the wake of the alleged suicide of a paramilitary force jawan at the CRPF camp on Jujumura police station premises in this district Tuesday (June 4). The deceased, Buta Singh, a jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was a native of Alupur village under Mansa police limits in Punjab.
Refusal of his leave application and increasing pressure on him by his superiors might have prompted him to take the extreme step, according to the talk making rounds.
PNN