Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 23

An Army Colonel, who fought the 1999 Kargil war, reportedly committed suicide at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh yesterday. The deceased has been identified as Col AK Rao of the Sikh Regiment, posted at the Brigade Headquarters in the garrison town.Rao was diagnosed with neurological disorder Huntington Disease in 2011, which among other problems, is also said to cause depression. He was also suffering from cardiac disorder.The officer was on compassionate last-leg posting and had about a year-and-a-half’s service left. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.Sources said the officer had left home for a morning walk. When he did not return after an hour, his wife went looking for him and found him hanging from a cable that ran along a ledge outside their house.He was rushed to the local military hospital where he was declared “brought dead”. “This appears to be a case of suicide. A court of inquiry has been ordered by the Army. The police have also registered an FIR. All due official procedures and formalities are being undertaken,” an officer said.

Kargil War hero was depressed

• Col AK Rao was diagnosed with neurological disorder Huntington Disease in 2011, which among other problems, is also said to cause depression
• He was also suffering from cardiac disorder
• He was found hanging from a cable that ran along a ledge outside his house