Jawan dies by suicide at Air Force station near Coimbatore, wife says he was stressed

According to police, he reportedly shot himself with his service rifle around 6.10 am while on duty at the 13th tower post of the air base. Fellow servicemen, alarmed by the sudden gunshot, rushed to the spot and found Sanu lying in a pool of blood, the rifle beside him. Air Force police and local law enforcement officers from Sulur immediately reached the site and initiated an investigation. The body was later taken to the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital in Coimbatore for a post-mortem examination, and subsequently handed over to the family.

Sanu’s wife, Indulekha, 42, told police that her husband had been under significant mental stress in recent weeks. During a short visit to his hometown two weeks earlier, he had sought medical help for depression and was prescribed counselling and medication. However, he reportedly discontinued the medication after two days and returned to duty on October 12. “He told me over a video call that he was not feeling well mentally,” Indulekha told the police in her statement. Around 7.15 am on Sunday, one of Sanu’s colleagues called her to inform that he had been found dead after a gunshot was heard from his post.

Police said a case has been registered under Section 194 (police to enquire and report on suicide, etc.) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita based on Indulekha’s complaint.

“Preliminary inquiries suggest the incident was the result of personal mental distress. There was no indication of foul play,” a senior officer said. Sanu had served in the armed forces for over two decades before joining the Defence Security Corps, a unit primarily tasked with protecting defence establishments.

Authorities at the Sulur Air Force Station said a detailed internal inquiry is underway.