An 18-year-old cadet was found dead at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune on Friday morning, in what the police suspect to be a suicide. The police identified the deceased as Antariksh Kumar Singh, who hailed from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. The son of an ex-serviceman, Singh was a first-term cadet from Charlie Squadron at the NDA. He joined the academy in July this year. The police said that Singh was found dead in his hostel room around 6 am. After receiving the information, a team from the Uttam Nagar police station rushed to the NDA for investigation. “There is no confirmation of ragging so far. Investigation is underway. We are waiting for the relatives of the deceased to arrive here. No suicide note was found,” Sambhaji Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said. The NDA expressed regret over the incident in a statement issued through the defence PRO. “The cadet, who was undergoing training at NDA, was found in lifeless condition in his cabin by fellow cadets after he failed to report for the day’s training. He was immediately rushed to the Military Hospital, Khadakwasla, where he was declared dead at 6.30 am,” the statement said. “The next of kin and the local police have been informed. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident. The NDA fraternity expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” it added. The NDA trains future officers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force after their selection through an all-India examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, followed by Service Selection Board interviews and medical fitness tests. Senior police inspector Mohan Khandare of Uttamnagar police station said, " We have lodged an accidental death report in this case as per the legal procedure and further investigation has been launched to confirm the cause behind the death of the NDA cadet. His family members have not spoken to us yet."
