BackChhattisgarh: 4 CRPF jawans killed, 3 injured after colleague opens fire
The incident took place when a jawan opened fire at the CRPF camp
PremiumAt least four Central Reserve Police Force jawans of 50 battalion were killed and 3 were injured in a case of fratricide at a camp under Maraiguda Police Station limits in Sukma district on Sunday night.
The incident took place when a jawan opened fire at the CRPF camp.
The incident took place at around 3.15 am in the camp of the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) 50th battalion in Linganpalli village under Maraiguda police station of the area of the district, located nearly 400 km from the state capital Raipur, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said. As per preliminary information, constable Reetesh Ranjan fired at his colleagues with his service weapon, an AK-47 rifle, the official said.
The seven injured jawans were immediately shifted to a hospital in nearby Bhadrachalam area of neighbouring Telangana, where doctors declared four of them dead on arrival, the official said. Those killed were identified as constables Rajmani Kumar Yadav, Rajib Mondal, Dhanji and Dharmendra Kumar, he said, adding that three other injured personnel were being treated at the hospital.
“The motive behind the firing is yet to be ascertained and an investigation is on into the incident," the official said. Constable Ranjan was immediately held and his interrogation is underway, he said. Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma told PTI that Ranjan was scheduled to be on sentry duty at the camp from 4 am and after getting ready for it, he allegedly opened fire at his colleagues who were sleeping in a barrack. “Around 40 to 45 jawans were sleeping inside the barrack at that time. After all the bullets in Ranjan's rifle got exhausted, he was overpowered and captured by some of his colleagues who woke up on hearing the sound of gun shots," the official said. “As per preliminary information, Ranjan and the victims had been exchanging jokes and teasing each other for last two-three days. The accused might have been offended with the teasing and hence, took such a step," Sharma said. However, the exact motive behind the incident will be known after an investigation, he said.
Two of the three injured jawans were being airlifted to Raipur for further medical assistance, while another jawan was undergoing treatment at Bhadrachalam, a statement from the Chhattisgarh government said. Of the deceased jawans, three belonged to Bihar and one was from West Bengal, it said. CRPF's inspector general and Sukma's additional superintendent of police reached the spot, while Bastar IG, Sukma's collector and superintendent will also go there, it added. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Baghel termed the incident as “unfortunate" and expressed grief over it, another government release said. Baghel also asked police officers to take necessary steps to ensure such incidents do not recur, it said. He instructed authorities to provide best treatment to the injured jawans, the statement said.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over the incident and directed police officers to take necessary measures to ensure such incidents do not recur, according to a government statement.
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