Class 12 student allegedly commits suicide in Faridabad; Police investigate source of firearm

A Class 12 student allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a country-made firearm in a bathroom on the third floor of his house in Faridabad's Pali village, police said on Thursday. The reason behind the alleged suicide remains unclear, and police are investigating how the student procured the firearm and the circumstances that led to his death. 

According to a complaint filed by the 17-year-old student's father, the deceased was pursuing Class 12 studies through an open-school programme and also attended coaching classes. 

On Wednesday evening, around 5 pm, the student's mother and elder brother went to a plot near their house, leaving him alone at home. When the elder brother returned around 6 pm, he could not find the younger sibling. While searching for him, he reached the third floor and looked through a window into the bathroom, where he found the student lying in a pool of blood. He raised an alarm, prompting people from the neighbourhood to gather at the spot. The family subsequently broke open the latch of the gallery door to gain access to the bathroom. A country-made firearm was found lying next to the student, the father told police. 

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Investigation underway

Following the information, a police team reached the spot and videographed the scene. Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Crime Branch were also called in to examine the site. The father has not expressed suspicion against anyone. An FIR was registered under the Arms Act at Dabua police station, and an investigation has been initiated, police said. "The cause behind the suicide has not been ascertained yet. We are working to determine where the student obtained the country-made firearm (desi katta) and the circumstances under which he took this step. We handed over the body to the kin after the postmortem today, and a further probe is underway," Inspector Sumer Singh, SHO of Dabua police station, said.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.