Patna: A 24-year-old Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan allegedly died by suicide after shooting himself with his service rifle while on duty at the 19th Battalion camp in Gilabari under Thakurganj block of Kishanganj district early Sunday. The exact cause of death and motive is yet to be established, said police.The victim, identified as Chain Mandal, was a resident of Darjeeling district in West Bengal. Police said he was deployed alone on sentry duty from midnight to 6am when the incident occurred. His body was found at the duty post around 3am by another jawan, who alerted senior officers.A cartridge from an INSAS rifle, the weapon assigned to Mandal, was recovered from the spot. Police said the rifle was found lying near his feet, while his phone was also seized for examination.According to investigators, Mandal had joined the SSB in 2024 and completed a year of training before being posted in Kishanganj in 2025. He had recently returned from leave and resumed duty at the battalion camp two days before the incident.Jiapokhar police reached the camp after being informed and conducted a preliminary investigation. Officials said the position of the body and other evidence indicate that Mandal may have shot himself while seated on the ground, though the exact circumstances are still being verified.Jiapokhar SHO Gautam Kumar said heavy rain at the time may have drowned out the sound of the gunshot, delaying the finding of the incident. “We are examining Mandal’s phone, duty records and other evidence to determine the reason behind the alleged suicide. We are also probing whether a personal relationship issue may have played a role,” he said.According to preliminary findings, Mandal was on a video call with a woman shortly before the shooting. However, officials said the exact cause of death and motive was yet to be established.
