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regular-article-logo Wednesday, 01 May 2024

Jammu and Kashmir: Army major who opened fire at colleagues in Rajouri district faces court of inquiry

Police sources say five people, including a commanding officer, his deputy and a medical officer from 48 Rashtriya Rifles, are injured

Muzaffar Raina Srinagar Published 07.10.23, 06:10 AM
Representational image.

Representational image. File picture

The army has initiated a court of inquiry against a major who was detained on Thursday after he allegedly opened fire on his colleagues and lobbed grenades at them inside a camp in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The army has officially confirmed that only one officer had been injured in the incident without revealing the identity of the accused major whose action triggered an hours-long standoff at the Neeli post in Rajouri’s Thanamandi before he was overpowered.

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Police sources said five people, including a commanding officer, his deputy and a medical officer from 48 Rashtriya Rifles, were injured.

“There was a firing practice going on in the area. There are reports that he (the major) opened fire at some of his colleagues without provocation. He fled to an armoury nearby where officers tried to persuade him to surrender. He is said to have lobbed a grenade towards them, injuring some of them,” an official said.

Jammu-based White Knight Corps of the army posted on X on Thursday night that one officer was injured in a “likely grenade accident” at a post in the Rajouri sector.

“Officer evacuated and stable post initial treatment. Further investigation of the incident in progress,” it added.

The army offered no updates on Friday but an official denied reports that there was a militant attack on the camp.

Sources said the major was overpowered after an eight-hour drama and the court of inquiry was initiated on Friday.

“He has been detained and is being questioned,” an official said.

On Friday, senior army officers rushed to the area to take stock of the situation.

Incidents of fratricide are not uncommon in Jammu and Kashmir but the involvement of officers in such cases is very rare.

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