Chandigarh, Nov 29 (IANS): A Punjab sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) who had gone missing the day before was Tuesday found dead in a canal, police said.

Karanveer Singh Mann was posted as SDM in the Sikh holy city of Anandpur Sahib, 85 km from here.

His body was found floating in the canal near Kotla power house in Ropar district.

Police officials investigating the incident said it appeared to be a case of suicide.

A Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer, Mann had driven to the Bhakra canal near Anandpur Sahib in his official vehicle. He called up a police officer from his mobile phone saying that his vehicle was parked near the canal.

The headlights of the vehicle were on and the mobile phone of the officer and the vehicle keys were lying inside when police traced it.

Apprehending that the officer could have committed suicide, police started a search along the canal.

Anandpur Sahib had seen the grand opening of the Virasat-e-Khalsa Sikh heritage memorial Nov 25.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal condoled the untimely and tragic demise of Mann. In a joint statement, they said that Mann was an able administrator.