Teacher dies by suicide in Pratapgarh, family cites mental stress

PRATAPGARH: Tragedy struck Bahlolpur village in Uttar Pradesh after a 35-year-old Shikshamitra allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself with a country-made pistol at his residence, police said on Tuesday. The deceased, identified as Yogendra Saroj, was posted at a government primary school in the area, City Circle Officer Prashant Raj Huddar said. According to police, Saroj returned home from school on Monday evening and later shot himself inside his room, leaving himself critically injured. He was rushed to a medical college, where doctors declared him dead, the officer said. Police reached the spot after receiving information and sent the body for post-mortem examination. The autopsy was conducted by a panel of two doctors and videographed on the district magistrate’s orders, police said. Family members told investigators that Saroj had been under mental stress for several days, though the reason behind it remains unclear. Prima facie, the incident appears to be a case of suicide linked to mental distress, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.