By IANS,
Chandigarh : A senior Punjab-cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, A.S. Chatwal, died at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Pgimer) here late Monday night after he attempted suicide at his official residence here.
Chatwal, 48, a promising officer of the Punjab government in the rank of principal secretary, was found hanging on the first-floor bedroom of his house in the high-security residential area for Punjab government officers in Sector 39 here.
Doctors at Pgimer tried to save him but later declared him dead late Monday night, a hospital spokesperson said.
His body was found hanging from the ceiling fan by his wife Manpreet, a doctor, when she returned from Ludhiana Monday at 8.30 p.m. He was immediately rushed to the Pgimer.
Chatwal left a suicide note seeking forgiveness from his parents and also his wife “for ditching her”. He did not blame anyone for his death and did not give any cause why he was taking the extreme step.
His daughter, also a doctor, had got married only last month.
The officer, who had held several important assignments during his career, was presently posted as principal secretary, non-resident Indian (NRI) affairs and non-conventional energy. He was instrumental in the successful holding of Punjab’s biggest ever NRI convention January this year.
Chandigarh’s senior superintendent of police S.S. Srivastava said that investigations were being made to know the reasons for the suicide. Police officials said that Chatwal was disturbed due to family reasons in the past few weeks.