CRPF jawan opens fire at camp in Chhattisgarh, kills four colleagues

The jawan was overpowered and apprehended by other colleagues who were present in the camp

A CRPF jawan allegedly shot dead four of his fellow troopers with his service rifle after a brawl in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Saturday evening, police said.

Bodies of soldiers killed in a firing by a CRPF jawan being taken from the CRPF 168 Battalion Camp in Chhattisgarh. (ANI Photo)

Another jawan was injured when the accused, Santh Kumar, opened fire at Basaguda camp of the CRPF’s 168 battalion, engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the state.

The killed CRPF troopers include two sub inspectors (SI), one assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a constable. The condition of the injured jawan is said be critical.

“Santh Kumar had some issues with one sub-inspector Vikey Sharma (one of those killed). But, we are yet to ascertain the exact cause which triggered the firing,” said a senior officer of CRPF, who was not willing to be named.

Deputy inspector general of police (DIG), Bastar, Sunderaj P, identified the dead as Megh Singh (52) from Gujarat, Rajbeer Singh (48) from Rajasthan and GS Rao (37) from Andhra Pradesh, besides Vikey Sharma (34) who was from Jammu and Kashmir.

The DIG further said that the accused Santh Kumar (35) is from Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

ASI Gajanand suffered injuries in the incident, the DIG said.

The bodies and the injured ASI were evacuated from Basaguda to Bijapur at 6 pm. An MI17 helicopter was sent to airlift the injured and the bodies to Raipur, he added.

Officials said Kumar was overpowered and apprehended by other colleagues who were present in the camp.

(With PTI inputs)