Retired Defence Ministry official commits suicide

A 61-year-old retired Defence Ministry official, who had been suffering from depression for the past couple of years, allegedly committed suicide at his residence in south Delhi's Lodhi Road area on Thursday, police said. HT reports.

A 61-year-old retired Defence Ministry official, who had been suffering from depression for the past couple of years, allegedly committed suicide at his residence in south Delhi's Lodhi Road area on Thursday, police said. "The deceased has been identified as SC Sarkar, who retired in August 2010. He was an under secretary in the Defence Ministry," said a senior police officer.

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According to the police, Sarkar was found dead by his wife and brother-in-law, when they came back after meeting a maintenance contractor.

"Sarkar's wife had gone to meet a private home maintenance contractor in east Delhi's Mayur Vihar, with his brother, when the incident occurred. She said she tried to contact him over the phone while she was there but Sarkar wouldn't answer," the officer said.

"When she came back, she saw her husband hanging from an iron pipe on the terrace," the officer added.

Police said they had not recovered a suicide note from Sarkar.

"His family members said he had been depressed ever since he retired and had been undergoing medical treatment for the same. He couldn't reconcile himself to the fact that he was suddenly jobless. We are investigating the matter," said HGS Dhaliwal, DCP (south).