4 Army jawans killed in firing inside Bathinda military station, SSP rules out terror attack

Four people were killed in a firing incident inside Bathinda Military Station in the early hours of Wednesday.

Punjab SSP said that the incident was “not a terror attack”. All the four deceased were from 80 Medium Regiment. The incident happened inside the officers’ mess of the military station. Identities of all the victims are being ascertained. The shooter was in civilian dress.

Station Quick Reaction Teams were activated following the incident and the area was cordoned off and sealed. The firing incident was reported at 4.35 am inside the military station.

“A firing incident was reported in the early hours of the morning around 4.35 am inside Bathinda Military Station. Station Quick Reaction Teams were activated. Area was cordoned off and sealed. Search operations are in progress. Four fatal casualties have been reported. Further details are being ascertained,” said South western command of the Indian Army.

“No terror or fidayeen attack angle in this. Search is on for two people with weapons,” said Additional director general of police (ADG) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar.

According to SSP Bathinda, “The firing incident was not a terror attack.”

“It doesn’t seem like a terror attack. It seems to be a case of fratricide,” according to Punjab Police and intelligence sources.

The firing incident happened in an artillery unit of the Bathinda Military Station. Families are also living in the area, sources said. An INSAS assault rifle went missing from the unit’s guard room a couple of days ago.

All the entry gates of the Army Cantt in Bathinda have been closed. About two days ago, one Insas rifle with 28 cartridges had gone missing. Some army personnel may be behind this incident, according to Punjab Police sources.

Army chief will brief the defence minister about the Bathinda incident.

According to sources, the firing incident is a case of fratricidal killings in all probability and not a fit of rage kind of incident. The source added that the incident might be planned by one of two individuals as a rifle had gone missing from the unit two days back.

Sources added that even police have not been allowed inside Bathinda Cantonment.

A statement by the South western command of the Indian Army at 11 am said “four army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries.”

“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 statement by the HQ SW Command read.

The statement further read, “The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with 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.”

The families of jawans, killed in the Bathinda firing incident, are being informed about the loss of lives, said the Indian Army.