Four soldiers were slain in an early morning shooting at the Bathinda military station in Punjab. The jawans belonged to an Army artillery regiment. According to the Army’s South Western Command, the area has been blocked off and fast response teams are undertaking a search.
“A shooting incident was reported inside Bathinda Military Station around 0435h in the early hours of the morning.” Station Quick Response Teams have been activated. The area had been blocked off and sealed. Search operations are now underway. Four fatalities have been reported. “Further information is being gathered,” an Army statement said this morning.
According to a later statement, the Army and Punjab police are conducting a joint inquiry into the incident.
On reports that an INSAS rifle and ammunition that went missing two days back could have been used in the incident, the Army statement said, “All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained.”
According to sources, the firing took place inside the officers’ mess.
Earlier, Bathinda’s Senior Superintendent Of Police GS Khurana told NDTV that a police team is waiting outside the military station and that the Army has not cleared their entry yet.