MP Cong urges Centre to order probe into lt-col's death

Bhopal, Dec 3 (UNI) Congress Madhya Pradesh unit General Secretary Deepchand Yadav today urged the Centre to order an inquiry into the death of Rashtriya Rifles Lieutenant-Colonel Pankaj Jha who allegedly committed suicide in Udhampur district on Friday.

''Though the Army has already ordered an inquiry at its level, I have written to Defence Minister A K Antony for an investigation by a civilian agency,'' Mr Yadav told journalists at the Raja Bhoj Airport this evening soon after the officer's body was conveyed here by the regular Indian Airlines flight from Delhi.

The wooden coffin was shifted by tractor-trolley from the plane to a truck from the 3 Electronics and Mechanical Engineers Centre in nearby Bairagarh even as uniformed officers, jawans and mediapersons deluged the airport.

Jha's Bhopal-based family was present. Even as his elder brother Sanjay could barely hold back his tears, the officer's wife Mom Jha collapsed soon after the coffin -- draped in the proud Tricolour -- was loaded onto the truck.

The corpse will be placed in the mortuary at the 3 EME Centre and handed over to the family tomorrow.

Col Jha allegedly shot himself at 15 Sector Rashtriya Rifles Headquarters at Mahore.

UNI AC MS RK2100