A constable of the India Reserve Batallion, posted as a gunman at the Sector-18 residence of senior BJP leader Balramji Das Tandon, allegedly committed suicide early on Friday morning.

Amrik Singh (42), who was attached with Punjab Police, reportedly shot himself in the head with his service rifle in the guard’s room while his four colleagues were out for breakfast. Hearing the gunshots, security personnel rushed to the spot and found Singh dead.

Although there seems to be no apparent reason for the suicide, Deputy Superintendent of Police J S Cheema (East) said the constable was an introvert by nature, and according to his fellow guards, had been mentally upset lately.

A forensic team from Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Sector 36, was also called in to collect evidence.

Hailing from Kandowal village in Hoshiarpur, the constable had returned to Chandigarh from his hometown just a day ago. Amrik Singh was deployed in Tandon’s security cover last month. He was earlier posted with the Punjab State Excise and Taxation Department.

Singh is survived by his father, two brothers, wife, a son and a daughter. The police have started inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.