Firing in Punjab army station, 4 jawans killed; Army rules out terror angle

As many as four soldiers have been killed in a firing incident at Bhatinda military station in early morning on Wednesday, the Indian Army said, adding that a search operation was ongoing.

Prima facie it’s a case of fratricide killing with no evidence of a terror attack. Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande confirmed to the Home Ministry that this was no terror attack.

Punjab’s Additional Director General of Police, SPS Parmar told PTI over phone, “It is not a terrorist attack, it is not an attack from outside. It is a fratricidal incident”.

The entire area has been cordoned off and search operation is on. The gates of the Bathinda Military Station have been closed following the firing incident. The military station, located about six hours north of New Delhi, houses mostly families of soldiers and is a residential army base.

“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. Search operations, are in progress. Four Fatal casualties reported. Further details being ascertained,” an Army statement said this morning. Another statement issued later said the Army and Punjab police are holding a joint investigation into the incident.

“All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained,” added the statement.

The Hindustan Times quoting sources in the Amry headquarters revealed that the perpetrator is apparently alive and the quick reaction teams have cornered him. The name of the perpetrator has not been revealed.

As per ANI, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be briefed by Army Chief General Manoj Pande on the Bathinda Military Station firing incident in a short while from now. It further said that the Punjab police sources that there is no terror angle in the firing incident. Sources added that all the entry gates of the Army Cantt in Bathinda have been closed.

-INDIA NEWS SERVICE