Punjab IAS officer commits suicide

Press Trust of India
Monday, October 20, 2008, (Chandigarh)

The mystery shrouds the death of a senior Punjab cadre IAS officer whose body was found hanging on Monday in his official residence in Chandigarh.

A S Chatwal, secretary, science and technology, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his official residence, police said.

He was taken to a hospital in the city, where he died, sources said.

Police recorded the statements of his family members and recovered a suicide note from his possession in which he had reportedly written that no one was responsible for his death.

He was around 48 and was alone in his house when he took the extreme step, police said, adding that they suspect that the officer was under depression.

Initial inquiry indicates that Chatwal had committed suicide, police said.

Chatwal was credited with having organised the first ever NRI sammelan in Punjab in December and top industrialists were part of it.

He was instrumental in bringing several proposals, including NRI police station and NRI fast track court, as he was NRI affairs commissioner as well.

Chatwal, who held an MBBS degree, is survived by his wife and daughter. Both of them are doctors by profession.