Rajgir ASI shoots self at police barracks

Patna: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI), stationed at Rajgir police station in Nalanda district, allegedly shot himself with his service revolver inside its barracks on Tuesday morning.

Suman Tirkey, who hailed from Ghaghra area of Gumla district in neighbouring Jharkhand, died on the spot from a gunshot wound to his head, police confirmed. No suicide note, however, was found at the spot.Senior police officers of the district rushed to the scene soon after the incident took place around 7am. The body was sent to Sadar Hospital, Biharsharif, for a postmortem examination. A forensic team was also summoned.

The police have recovered the service pistol.Rajgir deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sunil Kumar said preliminary investigations suggest that a family dispute may have been the cause of the tragedy, though the exact motive remains under investigation. “The police are conducting a thorough probe,” he said.The DSP told this newspaper that Tirkey was on night patrolling duty and returned to the police station around 6am on Tuesday.

“Tirkey was posted with Dial 112 emergency service for the past one year. After returning from duty, he went to the terrace of the barrack and shot himself with his revolver. Hearing the sound of the gunshot, other officers in the barrack rushed to the spot only to find him lying in a pool of blood.

His family was informed, but their statement is yet to come,” he said.Tirkey’s pregnant wife and other family members have come to Nalanda from Jharkhand.Kumar said earlier, he was in the police line, Nalanda. “According to a colleague of his, he was an introvert and a very reserved person. So, it was difficult for anyone to say whether he was stressed or not,” said the DSP.