NEW DELHI, July 15 -- 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 said on Wednesday.

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 license 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.

Police are examining all possible angles, including the teenager's health and emotional distress following his mother's death. No foul play is suspected. The suicide note, mobile phone and other evidence are being examined as the investigation continues.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.