Kanpur surgeon allegedly shoots self with revolver, marital dispute under probe

Kanpur: A 47-year-old government surgeon allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself in the chest with his licensed revolver at his home in Nirala Nagar, Kanpur, late Sunday night. Police are investigating an alleged marital dispute as a possible factor in the incident. 

The surgeon, who was posted at a community health centre in Kanpur Dehat, was reportedly at home with his wife, their four-year-old daughter and two-month-old son when the incident occurred. His wife allegedly rushed into the room after hearing the gunshot and found him critically injured. Family members took him to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

A forensic team recovered the revolver from the residence, while the body was sent for postmortem examination. Police said the circumstances surrounding the death would be established through the ongoing investigation. 

According to the doctor’s father, he had spoken to his son around 9.30 pm on Sunday and was later informed by his daughter-in-law that he had shot himself. The father alleged that the couple had frequently argued over minor domestic issues and that family members had intervened several times to settle their differences.

He further alleged that an argument took place between the couple shortly before the incident. The doctor then reportedly went to the prayer room and shot himself while sitting in front of the shrine, reports Hindustan Times. 

Police officials said differences between the couple had emerged during the preliminary inquiry as a possible reason, but stressed that the exact cause had not yet been established.

"A detailed investigation will be conducted. If anything else emerges, it will be shared with the media," the police commissioner told PTI.

The doctor had married his second wife in 2019. His earlier marriage to a doctor from Kanpur, which took place in 2007, ended in divorce by mutual consent in 2018. He has a 12-year-old son from his first marriage.

He had completed his MBBS in 2006 and MS in 2010 and had served at Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital for around nine years before being posted to Kannauj. He later joined a community health centre in Kanpur Dehat, where he had been serving for about one-and-a-half years.

Police said further investigation is underway.