Navy sailor kills himself on ship, probe on: Police

MUMBAI A 25-year-old Indian Navy officer allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service pistol on a ship in the Mumbai harbour, a police officer said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon on the naval warship INS Chennai, a Kolkataclass stealth guided missile destroyer, after which the Navy ordered an inquiry into the incident, the officer said, requesting anonymity.

“There was no suicide note. We have seized his mobile phone and will check his call records, messages, and Whatsapp chats to get any possible lead,” the police officer said.

The exact reason behind the suicide was not yet known, but the police suspect that the sailor might have taken the extreme step due to some domestic issues, he added.

Navy spokesperson and commander Mehul Karnik said a board of inquiry has been instituted.

The Colaba Police in south Mumbai received a call from the Naval Dockyard that alerted them about the incident.

The police recovered the pistol used in the incident along with a magazine and a holster, he said, adding that a case of accidental death has been registered.