‘Seniors’ pressure’ blamed as Army officer shoots self

In a tragic incident, a young lieutenant of the Army committed suicide allegedly under stress due to the behaviour of his senior officials. Sumit Bhatt (24), son of Shashi Dhar Bhatt, a retired additional district magistrate, shot himself dead at his home here in Vasant Vihar Colony last night. Sumit, posted with an artillery unit in West Bengal, was to leave for his unit last night, having spent his Diwali holidays with his family. One and a half hours before the departure of his train, he shot himself using his father’s licensed rifle.

According to G.S. Martoliya, SP (City), Sumit was to board the Mussoorie Express, leaving Dehradun at 10 pm. Sumit watched the India-Australia cricket match on TV. One relative, a doctor by profession, had come to drop him to the station. But Sumit went to his room on the first floor. A gun shot was soon heard and the entire family ran to his room, which was locked from inside.

Sumit had shot himself in the head. He died before he could be taken to a hospital. No suicide note was found in his possession. According to family members, Sumit was unhappy with the treatment meted out to him by his senior officials. He was under stress and had narrated his woes to his relatives. The deceased had extended his ten days leave for another three days. His body was cremated at Hardwar today.