A 35 year old government dermatologist, Dr Ashok Kumar Meena, was found dead at his residential quarters in Kekri, Ajmer. He had shared a WhatsApp status saying “Won’t see patients, please avoid unnecessary calls” before missing duty. Police suspect suicide. No note found. Investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Dermatologist Found Dead at Government Quarters in Ajmer
A 35 year old government dermatologist posted in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district was found dead at his official residential quarters in Kekri on Tuesday in what police are treating as a suspected suicide.
The deceased, Dr Ashok Kumar Meena, had been serving as a dermatologist at the Government District Hospital, Kekri, for the past one year. According to police officials, he was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside his government accommodation located behind the hospital premises.
On Tuesday morning, Dr Meena reportedly posted a WhatsApp status that read, “Won’t see any patients, please avoid unnecessary calls.” This message later drew attention after hospital staff were unable to contact him for duty.
Police said Dr Meena had skipped duty on Monday citing ill health. He was scheduled for a day shift on Tuesday but did not report to the hospital by the scheduled time of 2 pm. Repeated calls from hospital staff and the Principal Medical Officer went unanswered.
Concerned colleagues sent a hospital employee to check on him at his residence. After repeated knocks received no response, the employee peeped through a window gap and saw the doctor lying inside. The matter was immediately reported to the hospital administration and police.
Door broken open, body discovered
A police team reached the spot and entered the residence after breaking open the main door. Dr Meena was found inside the room and was later declared dead. Additional Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Meel confirmed that prima facie the case appears to be a suicide. No suicide note was found at the scene during the initial search.
The body was sent to the hospital mortuary for postmortem examination. Police have sealed the residential quarters and called a Forensic Science Laboratory team to examine the scene.
Personal and professional background
Dr Meena was originally from Rajkot village in the Deoli area of Tonk district. He had been living alone in the government quarters in Kekri. His wife, a professor working in Delhi, was not present at the time of the incident. The couple had recently marked their second marriage anniversary on February 10, just a week before his death.
His father resides in their native village, while his elder brother works as a compounder. Family members have been informed and are expected to arrive as part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigation underway
Police officials have stated that a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the death. Statements from hospital staff, family members and colleagues will be recorded as part of the inquiry.
The incident has once again highlighted the often unspoken mental health struggles among medical professionals working in government setups, particularly those posted away from family support systems. While the final cause will be determined after investigation and postmortem findings, the case has left the local medical community in shock.
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