Punjab cadre IAS officer commits suicide

Chandigarh, Oct 20 (UNI) A senior IAS officer of the Punjab cadre allegedly commited suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his sector 39 residence here this evening.

According to police sources, Mr AS Chhatwal hung himself with a rope from a ceiling fan in one of the rooms of his residence. A Punjab Police gunman posted at his residence noticed the IAS officer hanging from the ceiling fan through a window and immdiately rushed inside.

Police said the gunman, along with two of his colleagues, managed to pull down Mr Chhatwal and rushed him to the PGI. Doctors at the hospital tried their best to revive Mr Chhatwal but after two hours finally declared him dead. The deceased IAS officer's wife was away to Ludhiana at the time of the incident. She later rushed back on hearing of the tragedy.

Mr Chhatwal was Secretary, Science and Technology and Non-Conventional Energy.

Police sources claimed that a note recovered from the IAS officer's residence said that he was taking this step on his own and no one should be held responsible. However, the police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.

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