Coimbatore: A Malayali Defence Security Corps (DSC) jawan shot himself dead early Sunday at the Sulur Air Force Station in Coimbatore. The deceased has been identified as Saanu Sivakumar (48) from Kannadi, Palakkad. He reportedly shot himself with his service rifle (AK-103) at 6.10 am while on guard duty. No suicide note was recovered.

According to his relative, Shaiju, a police officer, Saanu had been under severe work-related stress. “He was posted in Coimbatore for the past one and a half years. During a recent visit home, he told his wife Indulekha about the stress, and they even consulted a doctor. He was a private person but often opened up to his wife,” Shaiju said. Friends of Saanu also told Onmanorama that he had spoken about emotional distress, work pressure, and dissatisfaction with his job during a visit home a week earlier. Saanu had reportedly video-called his wife a day before the incident and spoken about wanting to kill himself. 

Officials from the Air Force Station informed the family about the incident around 7 am on Sunday. "Upon hearing the news, they immediately left for Coimbatore. His body was brought back to Palakkad on Monday morning and cremated with full Air Force honours around 10 am," said Shaiju.

Saanu had served in the DSC for 28 years, with postings in Lakshadweep and Chandigarh, where his wife and two children, daughter Harda and son Harshit, had lived with him.

A case has been registered at the Sulur Police Station, and an investigation is underway. The Sulur Air Force Station has not yet issued a statement. The story will be updated when one is released.