Kathua: Four Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, including an Assistant Commandant, were killed after a colleague allegedly opened fire at a CISF camp at the SEWA-2 Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Tuesday evening.
The accused, CISF Head Constable Awdhesh Singh, has been taken into custody and is being questioned by police and other investigating agencies.
According to preliminary information, Singh allegedly fired at his colleagues with his service weapon following an argument among the personnel deployed at the project.
The incident reportedly occurred during a change of duty when an altercation broke out between CISF personnel. The dispute escalated, resulting in gunfire that critically injured four personnel. All four later died of their injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Lakshman Singh, Constable Sanjeev Kumar and Constable Mohd. Rafiq.
The incident is being investigated as a case of fratricide, referring to the killing of personnel by a member of the same force.
A team from Kathua district police has reached the site and is conducting the investigation.
CISF headquarters has ordered a Court of Inquiry to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances surrounding the firing.
The exact cause of the argument and what led to the shooting remain unclear. The CISF Director General is monitoring the situation and the ongoing investigation.
The SEWA-2 Hydroelectric Project is situated in Mashka in Kathua district, close to the Himachal Pradesh border and adjoining Chamba district.
