An Army jawan, who was questioned on the burning of an 11-year-old boy in an Army garrison here in October, on Monday allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself.
A Special Investigation Team had questioned the jawan, Appala Raju, four days back.
Appala Raju, Lance Naik, shot himself with his service rifle at around 4 am, a senior police officer attached to Special Branch of Hyderabad city police said.
A defence spokesperson said, “Appala Raju was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. No suicide note was found.”
Humayan Nagar Police and Army officials are further investigating the matter.
Sheikh Mustafuddin was found with critical burn injuries in Garrison 47th Infantry Battalion at Mehdipatnam on October 08. In his dying declaration, he said Armymen set him ablaze. The next day he died of his injuries at a hospital.
The incident evoked widespread condemnation with people abutting the garrison demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
Police had earlier registered a case of murder against unknown Army personnel in connection with the minor’s death.
Hyderabad city police later constituted a five-member Special Investigation Team to probe the death of the boy.
The Army had strongly denied the involvement of its personnel in the incident.
