Bathinda Military Station firing: Two unknown persons booked; missing INSAS rifle and magazine located
Bodies of 4 soldiers taken to Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination
Bathinda, April 12: The Punjab Police on Wednesday registered a case against two unknown persons in the Bathinda military station firing incident. A search team has also located missing INSAS rifle along with the magazine.
Army and police teams will now be undertaking the forensic analysis of the weapon for ascertaining further details. The balance number of rounds in the weapon will only be available after forensic analysis. As per information, a joint investigation of the Army and the Punjab Police is underway. No individual has been detained or apprehended so far, say the authorities.
As per initial reports, the firing at the Bathinda Military Station early Wednesday morning in which four soldiers died, appeared to be an internal issue since a rifle with ammunition had been missing for the last two days, Indian Army sources said.
The Army said four Army jawans of an artillery unit, who have been identified as Gunners Sagar Banne (25), Kamalesh R (24), Yogeshkumar J (24) and Santosh M Nagaral (25), succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. An INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds were reportedly missing for the past two days.
According to the Army statement, no other injuries to personnel or damage to property have been reported in the incident.
Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off and the Army is conducting joint investigations with the Punjab Police to establish the facts of the case. "The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with the Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case. All aspects, including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained," stated the Army release.
Families of jawans killed in the incident are being informed, said the Army.
According to the sources, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and will brief him on the firing incident.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the four soldiers were taken to the Civil Hospital in Bathinda for post-mortem. Two of the victims are from Karnataka and two from Tamil Nadu.