Seraikela:
The jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force posted in Jharkhand's Seraikela district went through their worst nightmare on Friday when a colleague, in a fit of rage, began shooting at their camp last night.
The victims still don't know why Constable Harpinder Singh of 196 battalion suddenly began shooting at them in their camp. He killed six of their colleagues before he was shot dead.
Singh was on sentry duty at a camp in Kuchai village of Saraikela district. He started indiscriminately firing on his colleagues at around 10 pm, CRPF spokesperson said.
Six of his colleagues, including Assistant Commandant Bikau Singh, were killed in the firing.
According to sources in the force, an altercation broke out between Singh and other CRPF men over the quantity of food being wasted in the company mess. Singh, who was the mess in-charge, started arguing.
Assistant Commandant Bikau Singh then called these men into his tent to solve the issue.
Bikau found Singh to be "drunk" and ordered a medical test, which enraged him, the sources said adding, he picked up his AK-47 rifle and shot dead four personnel, including the officer.
The CRPF has started an inquiry into the incident. It's possible Harpinder was drunk when he started shooting.
"The jawan could have been under some sort of stress, but we can't say till the enquiry report comes out," said M P Nathhaneal, IG , CRPF.
CRPF headquarters in New Delhi has rushed its Additional Director General (Headquarters) J C Dabas to the spot to find the facts about the fratricidal incident along with other senior officials posted in the state overseeing anti-Naxal operations.
The families of the victims are still trying to come to terms with their loss.
(With PTI inputs)