Industrialist, 65, immolates self

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 12

A 60-year-old industrialist, who manufactured wires for cotton carding machine, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence in Industrial Area. He is said to have immolated himself by pouring some inflammable substance on him last night. The deceased has been identified as Jatinderjit Singh.

His family refused to share any information regarding the incident.

The investigating officer from Division No. 6 police station, Surinder Chopra, said the deceased owned a wire-manufacturing industry. Last night, he slept in the room situated on the ground floor while his daughter-in-law and a son slept on the first floor. “At 7.30 am when the servant arrived at home, he found the room locked. When he knocked the door, he got no response. He raised the alarm and called other members of the family. When the door was broken, the trader was found lying dead on the floor. There was a burnt blanket on the body,” a police official said.

The police said the deceased was survived by two sons. One of the sons had gone to Delhi along with his mother about 10 days ago.

During preliminary investigation, it was found that the man committed suicide by immolating himself with some inflammable substance. “We have also recovered a small plastic bottle which could have been used to fetch inflammable substance. The industrialist’s burnt body was lying on the floor. We will still get a post-mortem examination conducted to know the exact cause of his death. Further action in the case will be taken as per the post-mortem report. So far, the family suspect no foul play in his death,” a police official said.