Jamshedpur: A Mango businessman shot himself dead with his licensed rifle on his 45th birthday on Saturday, but the cause behind his death wish remains a mystery.
Neighbours of Amarnath Vajpayee at Chandrawati Na-gar in Ulidih say the deceased was suffering from depression and also had a fight with his wife minutes before he pulled the trigger around 9.30pm.
A forensic team has been pressed into service and the body sent to MGM Medical College in Dimna for post-mortem.
Vajpayee, fondly known as Bablu, owned dealership of a leading battery brand and had a showroom on NH-33. He was also a BJP worker and is survived by his wife, two teenaged children and elderly mother.
According to relatives, Vajpayee shot himself in the head in his bedroom on the first floor of their double-storey home.
"Bablu was out celebrating his birthday in the evening and returned home around 9pm. Since his wife delayed opening the door, he got furious and hit her. Then, they had a fight and Bablu's mother had to intervene," a relative said.
Apparently regretful, the man went up on the roof and wept before he came down and locked himself in a bedroom.
"His wife pleaded with him to open the door and he did. She thought they were on the same page, but as she resumed her chores in the kitchen, there was a bang. Everyone rushed to find Bablu dead with a bullet in his head. His rifle, for which he had a licence, lay beside him," the relative said.
Uncle of the deceased Bachchan Vajapayee said his nephew had come to seek blessing on his birthday. "There was nothing unusual about him when we met. Like a ritual, he touches my feet every year on his birthday and I bless him. I don't know why he would take such a drastic step," the uncle said.
Uldih thana OC Mukesh Chaudhury said it was a case of suicide, but the reason was being ascertained.
"We don't have any leads except for the fact that the man was suffering from a medical condition (depression). A team of forensic experts collected fingerprints and blood samples from the scene today (Sunday). We will record statements of family members soon," he added.
