Police personnel shot inside station premises in M.P.'s Satna, hunt on for accused

The Hindu

29-04-2025

A head constable was allegedly shot and injured by an unidentified man inside the premises of the Jaitwara police station in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district during the early hours of Tuesday (April 29, 2025). This marks the second incident of a police personnel being attacked within the past three days.
According to the Satna police, the incident occurred at around 12:15 a.m. when Head Constable Prince Garg, who was asleep in the police barracks, went to check on a noise and was shot in the upper chest near the shoulder. The accused fled the scene immediately after the firing.
Speaking to The Hindu, Satna Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Gupta said, 'He [Garg] was immediately rushed to the district hospital, and we received information around 12:30 a.m. He has since been referred to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa and is in stable condition, though still under medical observation.'
The police later identified the alleged shooter as Adarsh Sharma alias Achchhu, a resident of Nihuti village in the district. A manhunt has been launched with 12 teams comprising nearly 50 personnel deployed to trace his whereabouts.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused may be suffering from mental illness. 'His parents have informed us that he has been a source of distress for the family. He would often misbehave with them and has even reportedly set his house on fire. At one point, he threw his grandparents out of the home,' Mr. Gupta added.
Officials have yet to find any direct link between Mr. Garg and the accused. 'It is difficult to ascertain the motive at this stage, but all possible angles are being examined,' the SP said.
Additional Superintendent of Police Shivesh Singh Baghel confirmed that the Inspector General of the Rewa zone has announced a reward of ₹30,000 for any credible information leading to the arrest of the accused.
The incident has reignited political criticism, with Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari taking aim at Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the Home portfolio. 'This is not just an attack on a policeman but on the State's law and order,' Mr. Patwari said, calling for urgent reforms in the police administration.
He further alleged that repeated incidents of violence against police personnel, as well as against Dalits and tribal communities, were indicative of a deteriorating law and order situation in the State. 'These incidents are screaming that there is no rule of law left in Madhya Pradesh. I request the Chief Minister to relinquish the Home Department if he cannot ensure safety,' he added.
Just days earlier, in the early hours of April 27, a Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel was assaulted by a group of youths at Bhopal's Rani Kamlapati station. A video of the incident, which showed his uniform being torn, had gone viral on social media, further fuelling concerns over police vulnerability and public lawlessness.