Berhampur: In a tragic incident, a havildar of the 8th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) allegedly died by suicide in Ganjam district, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Debasish Behera, a native of Chandraput village under Balugaon police limits. He was posted with the 8th IRB Battalion stationed in the Belaguntha area.

According to reports, locals initially spotted Behera’s body hanging from a tree by the roadside near Kurulei and immediately alerted the police. After being informed, police reached the spot, recovered the body, and sent it to Bhanjanagar hospital for post-mortem examination.

The body was then brought to the battalion headquarters, where fellow personnel paid their last respects with full honours.

Preliminary probe suggests Behera may have taken the extreme step due to mounting debt. However, police said further inquiry is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to his death.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom in the area as well as among the battalion personnel.