Soldier who scripted his own death arrested

A soldier, who allegedly scripted his own death at the Indian Military Academy in 2003 to indulge in espionage, will be brought to Dehradun.

The man, Suraj Singh Negi, was arrested in Bhatinda on July 8, police said on Wednesday. Senior officials of the Uttaranchal Police were in touch with army authorities to decide whether to file separate cases for espionage and murder against Negi.

Negi was presumed dead after a charred body was found in the IMA premises on the night of December 10, 2003. However, he resurfaced at Bhatinda on July 7 and aroused suspicions after asking questions about families of Kargil martyrs.

A washerman, Kalua, with whom Negi was said to be close, was reported missing after the incident at IMA.

IMA spokesman Lt Col A K Chauhan said: "We have not got any official information about Suraj Singh Negi. Let this information come... only then we will decide."

An army patrol saw fire in one of the IMA barracks on December 10 and doused the flames. Negi's father Shankar Singh Negi, a retired subedar, and army authorities then identified the body to be that of the sepoy, police said.

Negi was being interrogated by the Bhatinda police in connection with the alleged "spying activities" after he was arrested on July 8.

His father, who was taken to Bhatinda, identified him. Negi's 'widow' has been drawing family pension and his father was bringing up his three children in Vikas Nagar in Dehradun.