Jharkhand's Shooting Champion Konica Layak Dies By Suicide: All About The Case

Konica Layak, state shooting champion from Jharkhand died by suicide on Thursday, December 16.

She was reportedly found hanging in the room of a girl's hostel in Howrah, West Bengal. The police found a suicide note in which the 26-year old said that she failed to fulfil her parent's dream.

Konica Layak Suicide Case: Things to Know

• Konica came into the limelight when her struggles were highlighted on social media by a social worker. Seeing her determination, she was gifted a brand new rifle by actor Sonu Sood as she was using an old one.
• Konica was training under Joydeep Karmakar, former Olympian and Arjuna Award winner in Kolkata. He gave her a scholarship at his institute.

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• She was reportedly disappointed when she was disqualified for target manipulation at the GV Malvankar championships. She could not enter the Nationals. However, Joydeep, her coach claimed that she recovered from it and started focusing on her training again.
• Her coach, Joydeep also stated that Konica was very dedicated regarding her practice but since past 10 days she was really irregular when it came to attending her training session.
• Konica was about to get married soon, according to Joydeep's statement to media.
• The Bally police is currently investigating the matter. They got to know from the shooter's parents that she went to attend a friend's wedding earlier this week in Chittaranjan in West Burdwan district.
• This is the fourth case of suicide of a shooter since September. The past three deaths were of Namanveer Singh Brar in September, Hunardeep Singh Sohal in October and Khushseerat Kaur Sandhu in December.  All the three shooters were from Punjab.

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• Joydeep states that Konica always wore a charming smile, she was neither an introvert nor an extrovert. The coach never noticed any signs of depression in her behaviour.
• Konica was the State Champion from Jharkhand in 10-metre air rifle in the year 2020. She was hopeful about the nationals but target manipulation allegations came as a major blow to her aspirations, as per reports.
• Jharkhand's former CM Babulal Marandi expressed grief about the death of the aspirant shooter on Twitter. He tweeted that the matter should have high-level investigation so that the truth unfolds.