Arunachal officer dies by suicide after being named in teen’s suicide note

A senior government officer in Arunachal Pradesh shot himself dead within hours after being named in the suicide notes of a 19-year-old youth who was earlier arrested for impersonating a magistrate and extorting money from the public. The youth ended his life by suicide on Thursday (October 23). The youth was found dead at his rented accommodation in Lekhi village on Thursday.

The deceased government officer, an executive engineer in the rural works department (RWD), who was named in the teenager’s suicide notes, shot himself at his residence in Khonsa, reported the Hindustan Times.

Deceased teen involved in extortion

The report further stated that the teenager’s body was found in his rented accommodation at around 11 am on Thursday, adding that a case of unnatural death was registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at the Nirjuli Police Station.

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The teenager, from the Upper Subansiri district, was earlier involved in unofficially assisting in patrolling at Indira Gandhi Park, an alcohol- and tobacco-free zone.

However, he later resorted to conducting unauthorised raids, illegally collecting fines and extorting money from pubs and wine shops. The youth reportedly used a rented Innova with a Magistrate on Duty” plate. He was arrested on June 19 for extorting Rs 7 lakh and was out on bail.

‘Multiple suicide notes recovered’

His family members alleged that multiple suicide notes were recovered from his rented room, wherein he accused two senior officers, including the deceased RWD engineer, of sexual exploitation, coercion and blackmail. They refused to take custody of the body till the case is resolved and demanded an impartial investigation.

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According to the Hindustan Times report, the teenager in one of his suicide notes alleged that the two government officials had manipulated him and promised him protection, but later started to blackmail him. The report further stated that in another suicide note, the teenager stated that he had contracted HIV but was threatened with the destruction of his life if he disclosed the abuse.

FIR lodged

An FIR has been lodged based on the complaint by his father at the Nirjuli Police Station, citing provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017. His father demanded in the complaint that the suicide notes be treated as dying declarations and sent for forensic verification.

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Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 271, and 272/3(5) (negligent and malicious acts likely to spread infection) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were added to the FIR.

“We are unable to ascertain his (the second senior officer) exact location. He is believed to be in Itanagar but is using multiple mobile numbers, which makes it difficult to trace him. So far, there has been no indication that he intends to surrender,” Nirjuli Police Station officer-in-charge Inspector Talum Nekam said as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

(Suicides can be prevented. For help please call Suicide Prevention Helplines: Neha Suicide Prevention Centre – 044-24640050; Aasara helpline for suicide prevention, emotional support & trauma help — +91-9820466726; Kiran, Mental health rehabilitation — 1800-599-0019, Disha 0471- 2552056, Maithri 0484 2540530, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)