4 dead in Bathinda Military Station Firing; Punjab Police rule out terror angle
The Station Quick Reaction Teams were activated and the area was cordoned off and sealed.
Chandigarh, April 12: At a shooting incident, four persons have been killed at the Bathinda Military Station in Punjab early on Wednesday morning.
According to a senior police officer, “A firing incident reported in the early hours of the morning around 4.35 am inside the Bathinda Military Station. Station Quick Reaction Teams were activated. Area was cordoned off and sealed.”
The officer further said, “Search operations, are in progress. Four Fatal casualties reported. Further details being ascertained."
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Bathinda's Senior Superintendent of Police GS Khurana also informed that a police team is waiting outside the military station and that the Army has not cleared their entry yet. However, he said it did not appear to be a terror attack and that it could be an "internal matter".
The station is also home to a large number of operational Army units and other static establishments.
According to sources from a senior officer, the incident took place near the officers’ mess of an artillery unit based at the station. Sources said that an INSAS rifle from the unit and some rounds of ammunition had gone missing from the unit premises two days ago.
“A court of inquiry will investigate the entire matter to establish the facts of the case and fix responsibility,” an officer said.
Punjab's Additional Director General of Police, SPS Parmar, said, "It is not a terrorist attack, it is not an attack from outside. It is a fratricidal incident".
The families of the jawans killed in the incident are being informed about the loss of lives.
According to Indian Army, the jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries who sustained during the firing incident at Bathinda Military Station. No other injuries to personnel or loss or damage to property reported.
The area is sealed and a joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case.
Further details about the incident are awaited.