
26-year-old PAC personnel dies by suicide in Sonbhadra; shoots self in neck
LUCKNOW: A PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) personnel on duty allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself in Sonbhadra district on Friday.
The jawan, identified as 26-year-old Sandeep Singh from Ballia, was immediately taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors declared him dead.
The sound of the gunshot alerted his colleagues, who rushed to the scene to find the soldier lying on the ground, covered in blood. He had used an SLR rifle to shoot himself in the neck, with the bullet passing through his head.
Sandeep was posted with the 39th Battalion Company in Mirzapur. The incident occurred after he returned to the Amwar PAC camp on 5 August, following VVIP duty in Varanasi. His shift was from 2am to 4am.
At around 3.55 am, just five minutes before his shift ended, he woke his colleague, Piyush Paswan, informing him that it was time for duty. Sandeep then returned to his seat and shot himself with the rifle. The barracks where he lived housed 30 other soldiers.
A forensic team arrived at the scene for investigation, and the body was sent to the mortuary. The family was informed of the incident.
Sandeep's father, Vinod Kumar, a clerk at Jamuna Ram Degree College in Ballia, recounted his last conversation with his son.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Why is everyone rushing to get their hands on this new air cooler?
News of the Discovery
Undo
Sandeep had called him at 9pm, mentioning his duty hours and that he was going to have dinner. Little did they know it would be their final conversation, leaving his father in tears.
Sandeep's father, uncle Anoop Singh, elder uncle Chandra Bhan, and younger brother Pradeep, along with other family members, have reached Sonbhadra.
They expressed disbelief over Sandeep's actions and have demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
Pradeep shared that he often spent time with his brother and the family was always happy during his visits.
He insisted that Sandeep had no disputes or enmities and showed no signs of stress, making the sudden incident difficult to believe.
Additional SP Tribhuvan Nath Tripathi stated that the reason behind the suicide is not yet clear. The family is being consulted, and a panel of doctors will conduct the post-mortem examination.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
What is Captagon? Saudi customs seize over 400,000 pills hidden in sheep wool at Haditha border
Captagon is an illegal synthetic stimulant, originally developed in the 1960s, now widely abused and trafficked in the Middle East/ Image: ZATCA via Saudi Gazette Saudi Arabia's Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has once again intercepted a major drug trafficking attempt, this time, 406,400 Captagon pills hidden inside sheep wool at the Haditha border crossing. As smuggling operations grow more deceptive, Saudi authorities continue to ramp up inspections, security protocols, and international cooperation in an unrelenting campaign against one of the region's most dangerous narcotics. Major seizure at Haditha crossing – The latest smuggling attempt On Friday, officials from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) at the Haditha border port in northern Saudi Arabia uncovered a large shipment of amphetamine pills, known as Captagon, concealed in a livestock consignment. The pills, totaling 406,400, were hidden within the wool of sheep, a tactic designed to bypass traditional inspections. The shipment had been declared as livestock, and during standard customs procedures, ZATCA deployed security screening technologies and K9 detection units, which successfully flagged the suspicious cargo. Following the seizure, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, which led to the arrest of three individuals who were scheduled to receive the contraband inside the Kingdom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo This bust underscores the increasing ingenuity of traffickers, as well as the rising pressure on Saudi Arabia's border control systems to remain ahead of such tactics. ZATCA's anti-smuggling capabilities and national security mandate ZATCA, formed through the 2021 merger of the General Authority of Zakat and Tax with the Saudi Customs Authority, has taken on an expanded role in protecting the Kingdom from illicit trade, especially narcotics. The authority operates across 48 air, land, and sea ports, including: King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam – the largest maritime gateway King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh – a major aviation hub At land crossings, including Al-Haditha Border PortSau, di Arabia's largest land port, linking the Kingdom to Jordan and the Levant's gateway to the Arabian Gulf States. ZATCA carries out continuous inspections. The Al-Haditha port is strategically located in al-Qurayyat Governorate in al-Jawf Province, along a 745 km stretch of the Jordanian border, making it a critical checkpoint for inbound cargo from the north. ZATCA employs a combination of technologies and procedures: X-ray Scanners for full-container and package inspection AI-powered risk assessment systems to identify high-risk shipments K9 detection units trained to identify narcotics, explosives, and undeclared cash Manual inspection and coordination with national drug control agencies Beyond narcotics, ZATCA enforces restrictions on items that violate public safety, religious values, or economic interests, such as weapons, alcohol, counterfeit goods, and unlicensed medications. The authority also encourages public participation by enabling anonymous tips via a hotline (1910), email ( 1910@ ), and an international line (+9661910). Verified reports can earn monetary rewards and are handled confidentially. Background on Captagon – Origins, risks, and illicit trade networks Captagon, originally developed in 1961 under the pharmaceutical name fenethylline, was intended as a milder alternative to amphetamines for treating narcolepsy, depression, and a condition known at the time as 'minimal brain dysfunction.' It was discontinued in the 1980s when governments, including the United States, classified it as a controlled substance with no accepted medical use. However, illegal manufacturing has surged, particularly in parts of Syria and Lebanon, where weak enforcement allows clandestine labs to thrive. Modern counterfeit Captagon pills often contain: Amphetamine and caffeine Other unidentified or toxic additives Highly addictive components that result in: Euphoria Sleeplessness Mental instability Increased aggression Its popularity as a stimulant has led to nicknames like 'jihadist drug' and 'poor man's cocaine', reflecting both its use in conflict zones and its low production costs. The Middle East is a hotspot for Captagon consumption due to: High demand among youth and affluent users Conflicts that allow for drug production in lawless zones Massive profit margins for smugglers and trafficking groups Saudi Arabia, due to its geographic proximity and economic status, remains a top destination for Captagon traffickers. Recent seizures and Saudi Arabia's expanding crackdown The Haditha seizure is only the latest in a series of major busts carried out by ZATCA in recent weeks: On June 27, 2025, officials at Jeddah Islamic Port uncovered a major shipment of Captagon pills concealed inside wardrobes. The seizure involved a total of 732,015 pills and was made possible through the use of advanced security technologies combined with thorough manual inspections. Following the discovery, ZATCA promptly alerted the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, resulting in the arrest of four individuals who were intended recipients of the drugs within Saudi Arabia. On July 26, 2025, Saudi authorities thwarted two separate attempts to smuggle over 69,000 Captagon pills through airports. These seizures took place at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. In both cases, the traffickers had concealed the pills inside luggage linings, demonstrating increasing sophistication in their smuggling methods. Common smuggling methods seen in recent years include: Pills stuffed in canned foods, chocolate bars Hidden inside vehicle parts, industrial machinery Strapped to or ingested by human couriers ('mules') Embedded in furniture or textiles, as with the latest sheep wool concealment Saudi Arabia's approach to tackling this issue is not limited to borders. The government has expanded its international cooperation, including: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) joint task forces Interpol-led campaigns targeting global trafficking networks MoUs with neighboring states to share intelligence and coordinate responses In 2023, Saudi Arabia hosted a regional Captagon summit, advocating for a unified strategy across the region to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution pipelines. Legal framework and zero-tolerance policy Saudi Arabia enforces one of the world's strictest anti-narcotics laws, and penalties for smuggling drugs are severe: Lengthy prison sentences Heavy financial penalties Deportation for foreign nationals In severe cases, the death penalty, particularly for repeat or large-scale offenses These laws reflect the government's zero-tolerance stance and its priority of protecting public health, national security, and economic integrity.


Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who was Patrick Joseph White? Suspect in CDC shooting who killed an officer and was later found dead; probe under way
Authorities have identified the man who opened fire at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on Friday as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia. White and DeKalb County police officer David Rose were both killed during the incident, according to the Georgia bureau of investigation (GBI). Rose was shot and killed before White was found dead on the second floor of a building across the street. Police have yet to confirm whether White died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted wound. The shooting began outside the CDC campus, with bullets striking windows across at least four buildings, CDC Director Susan Monarez said. Images shared by staff showed extensive damage to the site, where thousands work on vital disease research. White was armed with a long gun, and investigators recovered three more firearms at the scene. His motive remains unknown, with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens describing him as a 'known person that may have, some interest in certain things'. Rose was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan and graduated from the police academy in March. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Take a Look - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo 'This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father,' said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. The GBI said the investigation will be lengthy, with extensive evidence to collect and numerous interviews under way. How the CDC campus shooting unfolded A shooting near Emory University's Atlanta campus and the CDC left one person dead and a police officer injured on Friday. The incident took place around 4 pm at a CVS in the Emory Point area on Clifton Road, prompting the university to issue an 'active shooter' alert urging people to 'RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.' Police arrived minutes after the emergency call at 4.50 pm and found a critically injured DeKalb County officer, who was taken to hospital. The suspected gunman was discovered on the second floor of the building with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said the attacker fired at several windows of the CDC building during the rampage. Aerial images showed damaged police vehicles and a heavy security presence. Georgia governor Brian Kemp condemned the violence, linking it to another mass shooting earlier in the week, and praised first responders for their bravery.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Court orders Mumbai housing society to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation for death caused by falling coconut tree
Mumbai: In a rare ruling, a city civil court held an Andheri housing society responsible for negligence and ordered it to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the father of a 27-year-old man who died after a dead coconut tree on the premises fell on him in 2012. The victim, Kurla-based Rohit Jadhav, was walking towards Andheri railway station after finishing work when the dead tree fell on him. Satya Darshan Co-operative Housing Society Ltd blamed the BMC, claiming that despite requests, the civic body delayed permission to chop down the tree. Refuting the defence, the court said the BMC had already granted permission to cut the dead or dangerous coconut tree, and it was the sole duty of the society to get rid of it to avoid danger to the society members as well as passersby. "In the present case, it is manifest that the society and committee members have not performed their duty to cut the dead and dangerous tree as per the permission of the MCGM, and therefore the incident dated July 18, 2012, happened due to the sole negligence of the defendant society and its committee members," Judge Rajendra Lokhande said. From the compensation amount, the judge deducted Rs 25,000 that the society already paid to the family for medical help. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want to Become a Profitable Intraday Trader? Key Lies Here TradeWise Learn More Undo The judge further said the BMC granted permission on June 2, 2012, and the society received it on June 7, 2012. The court said despite this, the society did not take "prompt action" to cut the dangerous tree before the incident on July 18, 2012. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The defendants, the society and its committee members, argued that the tree fell due to "heavy rainfall and windy weather", classifying it as an "act of God". They also claimed that a contractor was hired but refused to work during the rainy season. The court rejected this defence, stating that the society's employment of a contractor did not absolve them of their responsibility to remove the dangerous tree immediately. "...because the dangerous tree can be cut by the crane or by any other means, and it is not necessary to climb on a tree which is dead or dangerous. The stall owners also made complaints or objected to not cutting the tree, which cannot be a ground for the defendant society to postpone the work of cutting the dangerous tree," the judge said. The judge also said that there is no evidence that the incident happened due to heavy rainfall such as a storm, tempest, lightning, or extraordinarily heavy rain. "Therefore, the defence of an act of God cannot be accepted," the judge said. The victim, Rohit's father, Bhagwan Jadhav (64), moved the civil court in 2013 against the housing society, its chairman, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer, and seven committee members. Also named were the BMC and the deputy registrar of cooperative societies. At the time of the tragedy, Rohit was serving in a private company at Andheri East on a monthly salary of Rs 7,500. The incident took place at 5.15pm on July 18, 2012, minutes after Rohit left his office along with a friend, Sopan Gowardhawan. Rohit was struck on the head, causing him to become unconscious with multiple bleeding injuries. He was taken to Holy Spirit Hospital, where he was treated until he succumbed to his injuries on July 26, 2012. An FIR was registered for causing death by negligence. The judge dismissed the father's claim against the BMC and the deputy registrar of cooperative societies, stating they were not liable for the mishap. The judge found that the MCGM fulfilled its duty by granting permission to the society to cut the tree and was not mandated to supervise the work. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !