A civilian staff member at the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune was found dead on campus on Thursday, with police suspecting suicide triggered by severe financial difficulties. The incident has cast a pall over the tri-services training institution, which witnessed the deaths of two young cadets in separate, unrelated incidents just months ago.
Details of the Unfortunate Incident
The deceased has been identified as Mayur Pawar, aged 31, a resident of Lamanwadi in Khadakwasla, Pune. According to an official release from the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Pune, Pawar was employed as Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) and had served as a cadet orderly for approximately 11 years.
The tragic discovery was made around 5:45 PM on January 8 inside a furniture store on the NDA campus in Khadakwasla. Pawar was found unresponsive while on duty in the Squadron. The academy authorities immediately informed the police, prompting a team from the Uttamnagar police station to rush to the location and take charge of the investigation.
The mortal remains were transferred to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for a post-mortem examination, following due procedure. The police have informed Pawar's next of kin about the devastating loss.
Financial Stress Cited as Probable Cause
Initial investigations strongly point towards suicide motivated by acute financial pressure. "After receiving information from the NDA authorities, a team was sent to the location. Initial probe points to this being a case of suicide due to financial distress. Further investigation is on," stated an officer from Uttamnagar police station.
The official press statement from the Defence PRO confirmed that the police recovered a note from the scene. The note indicated that the deceased was experiencing significant financial stress and explicitly stated that no individual should be held responsible for his extreme action.
In the wake of the tragedy, the NDA administration has expressed solidarity with the bereaved family. The release stated, "The Commandant and all personnel of NDA stand by the bereaved family…and are extending all necessary cooperation to the family and the civil authorities."
A Troubling Series of Incidents at the Academy
This unfortunate event marks the third death reported from the National Defence Academy campus in a short span. The incident comes merely months after two cadets of the elite academy lost their lives in two separate, unrelated incidents in October of last year.
On October 23, an 18-year-old first-term cadet died during a routine swimming practice session. Earlier that same month, on October 10, another 18-year-old cadet was found dead in his hostel room at the NDA in a suspected case of suicide. These consecutive tragedies have raised concerns and highlighted the immense pressures faced by both trainees and support staff within the high-stakes environment of the premier defence institution.
While investigations into Pawar's death continue, the focus remains on providing support to his grieving family and addressing the underlying issues that lead to such desperate measures.
