Judge's personal security officer shoots self to death with his service revolver in Mohali

A Punjab Police head constable, posted as the personal security officer (PSO) to the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) in Dera Bassi, allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself with his service revolver late Wednesday evening.

The deceased was identified as Harjeet Singh, a resident of Sundran village in Dera Bassi. His bullet-ridden and blood-stained body was found inside a locked Honda Amaze car, which belonged to the SDJM, police said.

Confirming the incident, Dera Bassi deputy superintendent of Police (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar said that the police were alerted after the judge informed them that his PSO had gone to drop his daughter off but failed to return and his phone had been switched off.

"Following the call, the SHO of Dera Bassi police station launched a search. Later, a constable from Chandigarh Police who lives near the area noticed the vehicle with the officer's body inside and informed the local police," said DSP Brar.

Upon reaching the scene, police found the car engine running and the vehicle locked from inside. “We had to break the window to open the door. The head constable had shot himself in the middle of his forehead. His service revolver was recovered from inside the vehicle,” the DSP added.

No suicide note was found from the spot. The motive behind the alleged suicide remains unknown.

DSP Brar said that preliminary inquiry revealed that Harjeet Singh was a well-mannered and soft-spoken individual. “He had worked as a PSO to several judges in the past and had never shown signs of stress or depression,” he said.

The deceased’s mobile phone has been seized for forensic examination, and his family has been informed. The police have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC, and further investigations are underway.