In an incident that sent ripples of shock through the community, a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officer stationed at the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh reportedly took his own life with his service firearm on the evening of Tuesday, April 16, according to sources.

The tragic event unfolded at the Danga Border Outlet Post within the Tikunia Kotwali region late on Tuesday. The fallen officer has been identified as 33-year-old Sanjay Yadav, hailing from the Firozabad district. Yadav was assigned to the 3rd Battalion of the SSB in Lakhimpur Kheri district, situated along the Indo-Nepal border.

Inspector Tikunia Manoj Kumar Singh revealed that the officer took his own life using his INSAS service weapon inside the SSB camp’s boundaries. Upon hearing the gunshot, fellow officers rushed to Yadav’s quarters, where they discovered him gravely wounded and immersed in his own blood. Despite their swift actions to transport him to the nearby Community Health Centre, Yadav succumbed to his injuries, Singh noted.

Yadav’s remains have been transported to the district headquarters for a post-mortem examination. The motive behind his decision to take his own life remains unknown at this time. Ongoing inquiries are being conducted into the matter.

This recent tragedy comes just one month after another SSB officer, Ravi Arya, also ended his life along the India-Nepal border in early March by hanging himself. Arya was a resident of Rathaura village within the Chhaprauli Police Station jurisdiction in the Baghpat district.

The stark reality of suicide underscores the importance of reaching out for help. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, emotional support is always available. Contact the Sneha Foundation at 04424640050 (operational 24/7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline, at 9152987821, available Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.