'Depressed' central force jawan shoots colleague

Kolkata: A central force jawan from Assam Rifles was killed and two more were injured after one of their colleagues fired multiple rounds of bullet inside the temporary camp, which was set up for election duty at Bagnan in Howrah district.

The fifth phase of Lok Sabha Elections is scheduled on May 6 (Monday) in seven parliamentary constituencies, including Uluberiya. Nine companies of central forces have been sent for poll duty. Among the nine companies, one company was set to camp at the Bangalpur Jyotirmayee Girl's School in Bagnan. As per the schedule on Tuesday, jawans from 7th battalion of Assam State Armed Police arrived at the school.

On Thursday morning, Lakshmikanta Barman, a constable of the company snatched an Insas rifle from one of his colleagues and started firing inside the school. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), identified as Bholanath Das, died on the spot and two more jawans identified as Anil Rajbanshi and Rintumani Bodhak suffered bullet injuries.

Local residents and pedestrians got frightened seeing Barman firing inside the school. Other jawans tried to take away the rifle from Barman but failed do so as he had two more magazines with him.

Barman allegedly fired 20 bullets, which is the capacity of one magazine. After the magazines were empty he allegedly loaded the rifle again and this time he went outside the school. Seeing a jawan with a rifle, local residents started running to safety. Meanwhile, Bagnan police station was informed. Soon police personnel arrived at the school and tried to stop Barman. Meanwhile, some jawans of Assam State Armed Police managed to catch him from behind and take away the rifle away from him. Immediately, he was detained and taken to the police station and later he was arrested. The injured jawans have admitted to hospitals in Uluberiya and Kolkata and at present they are undergoing treatment.

According to sources, Barman had asked for leave to avoid the election duty which was not granted. Since then he was reportedly suffering from depression. Every company consists of 100 jawans, of which 80 jawnas are active personnel and the remaining 20 are kept as reserve. Barman was one of reserve personnel. He will be produced before the Uluberiya Court on Friday. To avoid any untoward incident, a police picket has been set up outside the school.