Jawan found dead at naval base in Kochi

A Defence Security Corps (DSC) jawan, Naik K. Sivadasan, 53, belonging to Thrissur, was found dead with gunshot wounds late in the night on Sunday while on duty as armed sentry at Naval Base, Kochi.

The Southern Naval Command at the Naval Base , Kochi, ordered an inquiry into the incident. The authorities said they were ascertaining whether the firing was accidental or not. However, the harbour police, based on the finding in the post-mortem, said that it could be a case of suicide.

Harbour police officials said that three rounds of bullets were missing from the magazine of the INSAS rifle, a light machine gun, which was used by Sivadasan at the time of duty. Empty cases of these bullets were recovered from the spot where he was found dead.

“The post-mortem points to a case of suicide. The head crown was completely damaged after two rounds of bullets fired up through the neck region. The forensic team which examined the scene of the incident has also come to the conclusion that it could be suicide,” said a police official. The police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating.

The deceased is survived by his wife and two daughters, both of whom are married. The family was informed of the incident by the Navy later.