Overview
- A CISF head constable allegedly opened fire at a security camp guarding the Sewa hydropower project in Kathua, killing four colleagues after a verbal altercation, police and officials said on Tuesday.
- The accused, identified as Head Constable Avdesh (Abhidesh) Kumar Singh, was overpowered on site, arrested and handed to Kathua police while his issued AK-47 and ammunition were seized.
- CISF and hospital officials said the four wounded personnel were taken to an NHPC hospital across the Himachal border where they later died; the dead were named as Assistant Commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector Lakshman Singh, and constables Sandeev (Sanjeev) Kumar and Rafiq (Mohd. Rafiq) Ahmed.
- Authorities report the shooter carried an unusually large ammunition load, prompting an internal Court of Inquiry by CISF headquarters and a criminal probe by local police to examine ammunition accounting, weapon access and unit discipline.
- Preliminary accounts cite an argument as the trigger and some police sources have reported a dispute over a toddler being brought to the site but that specific motive remains unverified as investigators continue questioning witnesses and the accused.