PAC constable dies of gunshot at Sitapur ammunition depot
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the incident.
The deceased, Himanshu Kumar of Ishwardev village in Amroha district, was a 2021 batch recruit and was attached to the 24th Battalion in Moradabad. He had been deputed to the Sitapur facility two months ago.
According to police, Himanshu was stationed as a sentry at a 20-foot-high watchtower. Around 8.30 am, fellow personnel heard gunshots and rushed to the spot to find him critically injured.
He was taken to the district hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the shots were fired from his service INSAS rifle and three rounds were fired. While suicide is one line of inquiry, investigators have not ruled out foul play.
"At the time of the incident, earbuds were found in his ears. We are reviewing his last phone calls. Given the high security of the ammunition depot, the possibility of unauthorized entry is extremely low," said superintendent of police, Sitapur, Ankur Aggarwal.
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A forensic team collected evidence from the site. The Sitapur SP and 11th Battalion PAC Commandant Ravi Kumar visited the hospital. Officials confirmed there were no signs of forced entry at the location.
Additional director general, PAC, RK Swarnkar told TOI, "Himanshu had spoken to his wife shortly before the incident and seemed emotionally disturbed. The INSAS rifle has both single-shot and burst-fire modes. It appears that the burst mode was activated when the fatal shots were fired."
"The SIT will examine Himanshu's duty logs, weapon handling protocols, call records, and personal circumstances to determine the sequence of events that led to the incident," an official said.
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