Policeman shoots self at ONGC complex, critical

A 40-year-old police naik [rank below that of a police constable] shot himself with a self-loading rifle (SLR) at Chembur on Thursday night. HT reports.

A 40-year-old police naik [rank below that of a police constable] shot himself with a self-loading rifle (SLR) at Chembur on Thursday night.

HT Image

Police naik Sarjerao Jadhav was posted at the main gate of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in Chembur.

There is a permanent police chowkie next to the security cabin.

Jadhav shot himself in the chin. Doctors at Sion hospital, where he is being treated, said his condition is critical.

Jadhav was attached to the Dharavi police station for the last one and half years.

Four days ago, a senior officer reprimanded him when he reported on bandobast duty drunk. He stayed away from work for three days after that.

On Thursday, when he resumed work, he took the SLR and shot himself. The police immediately called a local doctor, Dr Khayoom Qureshi.

“The bullet went through his head. He had suffered severe blood loss,” Qureshi said.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Central region) Vineet Agarwal said: “We are yet to ascertain why Jadhav took such an extreme step.”

Senior Inspector Hemant Patil of Dharavi police station was not available for comment.

The police are searching for Jadhav’s family, who, according to police sources, had recently moved residence.

The police are unable to trace his family’s contact details because his mobile phone had been damaged.