Teen dies by suicide after shooting himself in Tilak Nagar

A 17-year-old boy died by suicide after allegedly shooting himself with his father’s licensed 12-bore rifle at their residence in the Tilak Nagar area around 5 pm.

Police recovered a handwritten note in which the deceased mentioned “social guilt” as the reason for taking his life. Investigators are also examining other possible factors, including emotional distress following his mother’s death around two months ago, a possible relationship and his recent health issues, they said.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening at the family’s rented accommodation in Chaukhandi under the Tilak Nagar police station limits in West Delhi.  Police said after receiving information about the death, they rushed to the scene with a CAT ambulance, but the teenager had already been declared dead by the time they reached the house.

Preliminary enquiry revealed that the boy had recently passed class 12 and was living with his parents, a brother and two sisters. He was the youngest sibling.

According to police, the boy’s father has lived in Delhi for around two decades and earns a living by running a chole-kulche cart in Dwarka. “At the time of the incident, the boy’s father and a relative were present in the house. Around 5 pm, the teenager went into the bathroom and shot himself with a 12-bore rifle,” a police officer said.

The officer said family members rushed to the bathroom after hearing the gunshot but found him critically injured. Police said the weapon was originally licensed in the name of the boy’s grandfather, who had worked as a security guard. The licence was later transferred to the boy’s father, who had also previously worked as a security guard at the same establishment.

Police said the arms licence is valid until 2030. A crime team examined the scene and collected forensic evidence. During the inspection, police recovered a diary containing a handwritten note; the last page referred to “social guilt”, the officer said.

Police said the note mentioned a woman’s name, and they are investigating.

“All possible angles are being examined, and further investigation is underway,” the officer said.

Family members have also told police that the teenager had been undergoing treatment for an appendix for some time. Investigators are looking into whether his medical condition, emotional distress following his mother’s death, or any other circumstances may have contributed to the incident, though no direct link has been established so far.

“No foul play is suspected at this stage,” the police officer said.

Police said the body has been moved to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital mortuary for a postmortem.

Police said the inquest proceedings under the relevant provisions of law have been initiated.

Police are recording the statements of family members and examining the suicide note, the deceased’s mobile phone and other electronic evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.