The death of a 21-year-old Chandigarh University law student was found with a gunshot wound inside his car parked outside a liquor store in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Saturday night, has prima facie been established as suicide, police said.
Investigators are now examining his mobile phone to determine what prompted him to take the extreme step.
The victim, a third-year law student hailing from Ludhiana, was found inside his car around 7 pm with a gunshot wound to the temple. The bullet had passed through his head. He was rushed to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, where doctors declared him dead.
His body was handed over to his parents on Sunday after a post-mortem examination by a panel of doctors. It was taken to his native village in Ludhiana, where his last rites were performed.
According to police sources, the victim used his father’s licensed pistol to shoot himself. The weapon is registered in his father’s name. Forensic examination has found evidence indicating that the victim was holding the pistol when the shot was fired, while the empty cartridge was recovered from inside the car.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from the area has also been examined. Police sources said it showed no movement or signs of an outsider entering the area or being involved in the firing. The CCTV evidence, forensic findings and nature of the gunshot wound have led investigators to prima facie rule out foul play and proceed on the basis of suicide.
{{/usCountry}}Closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from the area has also been examined. Police sources said it showed no movement or signs of an outsider entering the area or being involved in the firing. The CCTV evidence, forensic findings and nature of the gunshot wound have led investigators to prima facie rule out foul play and proceed on the basis of suicide.
{{/usCountry}}Investigators, however, are probing the circumstances that may have led to the death. The victim’s friends told police they were shocked by the incident and had no idea whether he was depressed or facing any personal or emotional difficulties. A police source said the victim had been an emotional person since childhood.
Police have learnt that he was speaking to someone on the phone shortly before the shooting. The device is locked, and investigators are trying to unlock it to examine call details and other information. Police are also examining how Gill came to possess his father’s licensed pistol and whether requirements relating to its safe storage and handling were being followed. Sources said action against his father may be initiated as per rules, and Chandigarh police is expected to communicate with Ludhiana police on the issue.