Berhampur: In a tragic incident, a havildar of the 8th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) allegedly died by suicide in Ganjam district, police said on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Debasish Behera, a native of Chandraput village under Balugaon police limits. He was serving with the 8th IRB Battalion stationed in the Belaguntha area.
According to police sources, locals spotted Behera’s body hanging from a tree near a roadside at Kurulei village and immediately informed the authorities. Police personnel soon reached the spot, recovered the body, and sent it to Bhanjanagar hospital for post-mortem examination.
Following the post-mortem, the body was brought to the battalion headquarters, where fellow personnel paid their last respects with full honours.
Preliminary investigation suggests that Behera may have been under mental stress due to mounting debt, though officials said the exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained.
Police have launched a detailed inquiry into the circumstances leading to the havildar’s death.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the locality as well as among personnel of the 8th IRB Battalion.
