Retd circle officer dies by suicide in Moradabad village

Meerut: An 89-year-old retired UP Police circle officer (CO) allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself with his licensed rifle at his home in Rampura village of Chhajlait area in Moradabad district, police said on Tuesday.

“Lakhpat Singh retired in 1995 and had been living in the village since then,” SP (Rural) Kunwar Akash Singh said.

Police said Singh had dinner with his family on Monday night before going upstairs to his room. When he did not wake up at his usual time around 4 am on Tuesday, family members went to check on him and found him lying in a pool of blood on his bed with the rifle placed on his chest.

His elder son, Satveer Singh, later submitted a written statement to police stating that his father had taken his own life. Family members said Lakhpat Singh had been distressed since the death of his wife, Vidya Devi, around six months ago.

SP Singh said, “Police and a forensic team inspected the spot and confirmed it appeared to be a case of suicide based on the family’s statement.”

Lakhpat is survived by three daughters and two sons. While two daughters are married in Meerut, one lives in Haridwar. His eldest son, Satveer Singh, retired from a private telecom company and lived with him, while his younger son, Jagveer Singh, a retired PWD engineer, lives outside the village with his family.