A catastrophic fratricide incident unfolded on Tuesday evening at a vital hydroelectric facility located near the Jammu and Kashmir border. A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) head constable stationed at the NHPC Mashka Sewa-II hydro-electric project in the Basohli area of Kathua district discharged his service rifle at fellow personnel. The sudden barrage of gunfire claimed the lives of four colleagues, including an assistant commandant, sending shockwaves across the security deployment at the power installation.
Victims Declared Dead at Khairi Hospital in Chamba
Immediately after the shooting, the four critically wounded personnel were transported across the border into Himachal Pradesh for urgent medical attention. They were taken to the project hospital located at the NHPC Chamera Power Station-1 in Khairi, within Chamba district. Upon arrival and examination, medical officers declared all four personnel brought dead. The deceased have been identified as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Laxman Singh, Constable Rafiq Ahmad, and Constable Sandeep Kumar. Following the tragic outcome, perimeter security around the medical facility was immediately reinforced.
Rifle Discharged 10 to 15 Rounds at Each Colleague
The violent encounter took place at approximately 4 PM on Tuesday during operational hours. Head Constable Awdhesh Kumar (also referred to as Abhidesh Kumar) turned his government-issued service rifle upon his fellow unit members and opened sustained fire. The assailant fired an estimated 10 to 15 bullets into each victim, leaving them with unsurvivable injuries before anyone could intervene. Prior friction appears to have precipitated the attack, as the accused was reportedly aggrieved with the assistant commandant and peers, having engaged in repeated arguments with them during shifts in recent days.
Suspect Detained as Police Launch Comprehensive Inquiry
Because the primary crime scene falls strictly within Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh police refrained from issuing official formal statements regarding the case. Nonetheless, a police contingent led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) from Dalhousie was dispatched to the Khairi hospital to manage local procedures. Post-mortem examinations for all four bodies were arranged to be carried out in Basohli. The accused head constable was apprehended and taken into custody shortly after the incident. Kathua SSP Mohita Sharma stated that police are thoroughly investigating the matter, while high-ranking CISF leadership also arrived at the station to examine the operational lapse.
