Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Vivek Mishra committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver at his residence in Sector 39 here in the wee hours today.

A CRPF officer on deputation with the Punjab Police for the last several years, 45-year-old Mishra was facing a CBI case for an alleged ‘fake’ encounter in which four persons were killed 13 years ago. This is the second such case in Punjab of a police officer under CBI scanner taking his own life. SSP Ajit Singh Sandhu, who was also facing similar charges, had committed suicide by jumping in front of a train near Chandigarh a few years ago.

Posted as AIG (Armament) at the Punjab Police Headquarters here, Mishra is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

The incident took place around 2 am. Mishra’s wife and children had gone to Delhi a few days ago and had returned late last night. According to the police, he asked for a glass of water from his son Vishvesh Mishra. “The moment Vishvesh turned his back after giving Mishra water, he pointed his service revolver to his head and fired. He was rushed to hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead,” said one of the investigating officials.

Vishvesh Mishra told the police that his father’s 9 mm service revolver was on his pillow when he served him water. “I never thought he would take such an extreme step.”

Mishra’s body was handed over to his family after post-mortem examination. The police officials said they did not find any suicide note from the spot. “Though his family said he was disturbed because of the ongoing CBI case against him, we can’t say what was the exact cause,” said an officer.

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