Young IPS officer found dead; suicide suspected, CID probe ordered

Vijayawada, Jun 17: 30-year-old IPS officer K Sasikumar was found dead with a "gunshot injury" in his office chamber in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, June 16, raising suspicion of suicide, even as the Andhra Pradesh government ordered an inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of his death.

The 2012-batch officer was posted at Paderu in Visakhapatnam district, around 300 kms from here.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, while expressing grief over the tragic death of the Andhra Pradesh-cadre officer, ordered an investigation by the Crime Investigation Department (CID).

"Sasikumar died of a gunshot injury. A note was found at the scene of the offence but his family does not want its content to be divulged," North Coastal Zone Inspector General of Police Kumar Vishwajeet told PTI.

"The exact reason of the officer's death has to be established. The CID has taken over the investigation," he said.

Sasikumar, a bachelor, hailed from Tamil Nadu and was posted as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in the tribal- dominated Paderu sub-division. This was his second posting, after the first stint at Allagadda in Kurnool district.

Last evening, representatives of a media house spent some time with Sasikumar at Paderu and he was found to be "normal and cheerful".

There had been suspicion that he might have committed suicide but police did not corroborate the version yet.

A gunshot sound was heard from his chamber early this morning following which the sentry rushed in inside.

The sentry found the IPS officer in blood as a bullet pierced through his right temple. The officer's service weapon was found on the table. His body was first taken to a hospital in Paderu and later to the King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.

"We are not sure whether it happened accidentally or done intentionally. The Visakhapatnam (Rural) SP has rushed to the spot and we are examining the case," Vishwajeet had said in the morning, soon after the incident.

Home Minister N Chinarajappa visited the hospital in Visakhapatnam and paid homage to the officer. "It's a loss to the state police force," he said.

PTI