New Delhi: Four people have been killed in a firing incident at the Bathinda Military Station in Punjab on Wednesday (April 12) morning.
“Firing incident reported in the early hours of the morning around 0435h inside Bathinda Military Station. Station Quick Reaction Teams were activated. Area was cordoned off and sealed,” the headquarters of the South Western Command said in a statement. “Search operations are in progress.”
Later, the same headquarters said, “It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss/damage to property have been reported. The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case.”
It is possible, they continued, that there was “involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back” but that is yet to be ascertained.
The army has requested the media not to speculate, given the sensitivities involved.
The Ministry of Defence, Army headquarters, the police and sister agencies have all been intimated about the incident, The Tribune reported.
According to the Hindustan Times, Bathinda SSP Gulneet Khurana said initial inputs suggest an army soldier possibly opened fire at others in the secured campus.
This is a developing story. More details will be added when available.