AC among 4 CISF personnel killed in Sewa project firing

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Sept 29: Four Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, including an Assistant Commandant, were killed after a colleague allegedly opened fire on them at Sewa Hydel Project in Mashka, Basohli tehsil of Kathua district this evening, officials said.

The incident took place at around 7.30 pm at Sewa-III Hydroelectric Power Project located at Mashka village in Basohli, near the border with Himachal Pradesh, the officials said.

According to preliminary information, the accused, Head Constable Abhidesh Kumar, allegedly resorted to firing from his service rifle following an argument with some of his colleagues.

Four CISF personnel sustained critical injuries in the firing and later succumbed to their injuries at nearby NHPC hospital, the officials said, adding the deceased were identified as Assistant Commandant, Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector, Lakshman Singh and constables Rafiq Ahmed and Sandeep Kumar.

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Following the firing, the accused was overpowered by his colleagues and subsequently arrested. The service weapon used in the incident was also seized as part of the investigation, they said.

Soon after the incident a team of Basohli police led by SHO Ankush Chib rushed to the spot to investigate the circumstances that led to firing by the CISF cop. The panic has also griped the Mashka and other adjoining villages after the incident.

The officials said senior CISF and police officers rushed to the spot and the exact circumstances that led to the argument and the subsequent firing are being ascertained.

The CISF has been deployed at the Sewa III Hydel Project for its security.

Preliminary reports said that the assailant and his wife are both working in CISF and were posted at Sewa Hydl Project III Mashka. The firing took place over an issue on the child of the assailant who went berserk and started indiscriminate firing.

Among the dead the Assistant Commandant, Ankit Kumar Pandey is from UP while Constable Rafiq Ahmed is from Doda district of J&K and Constable Sandeep Kumar is from Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district. However the residence of Lakshman Singh SI has not been confirmed yet. The police officers are camping at the spot and are investigating the matter.