Retired UP DGP DK Sharma shoots self dead in Lucknow

LUCKNOW: Dinesh Kumar Sharma (73), who retired from the police service as director general (DG) shot himself using his licensed revolver at his Gomtinagar residence of Lucknow on Tuesday.

Police said D K Sharma retired in 2010 as DG Training. In the suicide note recovered from the site, Sharma stated that he was suffering from prolonged illness, hence ending his life.

The incident came to light when his son Araeenjay Sharma, who lives on the ground floor of the house went upstairs to wake him up for his daily walk, said police. “Around 8am, his son knocked the door and on hearing no response despite multiple attempts, broke open the door to find his father sitting in a chair with a pool of blood on the floor, his licensed revolver lying between his feet” said additional DCP, East Zone, Syed Abbas Ali. His son took him to a private hospital and informed the police.

“A unit of FSL, and a police team reached the spot and found near his chair a suicide note which read, “To whomsoever it may concern. I am committing suicide as I cannot live with anxiety disorder and depression any longer. I am losing strength and health. No one else is responsible for it.”

He is survived by his wife Neeta Sharma, who retired as a professor in the botany department of LU and his son Araeenjay, who works from home for a US-based company. His daughter Avantna is in the Netherlands with her husband who works in the Indian embassy. She is expected to reach Lucknow for her father’s funeral on Wednesday at Baikunth Dham.

The UP IPS fraternity expressed shock and offered condolences at his residence. Senior police officers, including former DGP Sulkhan Singh, former DG BM Saraswat and serving officers like ADG Security, Binod Kumar Singh, ADG Technical Mohit Agarwal offered their condolences to the bereaved.

Additional Director General of police, Security, Binod Singh, said D K Sharma was a lively person and an officer with a sportsman spirit. “He had served as Superintendent of police in Mainpuri, IG in Gorakhpur, Bareilly. As ADG in Security establishment and Police Awas Nigam. He played cricket in the IPS team and was an impeccable table tennis player, “ said Singh.

“DK Sharma was also general secretary of Retired senior police officers’ association, UP (RESPOA), where all retired officers above the rank of DIG are members,” said former IG RK Chaturvedi.

Senior officers associated with the RESPOA group added that around 4.25 am on Tuesday the former officer had also resigned as general secretary of the organisation and sent a letter to the effect to other members on WhatsApp.

Another senior officer added that Sharma was the only IPS to be appointed Governor’s secretary, a post otherwise given to an IAS officer. He was secretary to former UP governor Romesh Bhandari. Sharma was widely travelled.


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