By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Aug 31:
Manish Somnath Sharma (50) a scientist working in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) located in North East Mumbai, committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at his residential quarter at Trombay on Monday, police stated on Wednesday.
On Monday, the deceased Manish Sharma was at home, while his wife Nitu Sharma and son had stepped out for some work. When they returned home at about 2.30 pm, Nitu Sharma opened the door of the flat with spare key. No sooner the door was opened, they came across distressing scene of Manish Sharma hanging from a fan in the hall room, using a nylon rope.
As Nitu Sharma screamed looking at the scene, neighbours rushed in. They brought down Sharma and took him to BARC Hospital located at Anushakti Colony. However doctors declared him dead before admission.
A hand-written note was found lying on a table in the house which carried brief words “Sorry Beta”. The deceased also apologized to his family for not living up to its expectations and for taking this drastic step in the note, purportedly written by him.
A student of IIT, Delhi, and basically a native of Delhi, Sharma had obtained Masters degree in technology in 1998. He had also done specialisation in thermal engineering. He joined BARC as a Scientific Officer in September 2000 and was working on safety studies of advanced nuclear reactors. Subsequently he achieved proficiency in the same subject, BARC sources said.
However he was under mental stress and was receiving treatment from a psychiatrist since 2001. The Trombay police have registered Accidental Death Report (ADR) as no foul play is suspected
The note retrieved from the flat will be sent to the Maharashtra Government’s Directorate of Forensic Laboratories located at Kalina in North West Mumbai. Besides, we will also inquire with the psychiatrist from whom he was receiving treatment, a police officer from Trombay Police said.
It may be recalled that in September 2021 a Scientist Officer Champalal Prajapati (44) attached to Technical Physical Division, had ended his life by hanging himself in the helium plant inside the BARC premises. He was stated to be under mental stress.
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