A constable of Punjab police was shot by his own service rifle under mysterious circumstances at the VVIP residential area of Sector 2, around 1 am on Friday. Mangal Singh, aged 45, died after being shot by his service rifle while on duty, said Harjit Kaur, SHO, PS-3. Mangal Singh was deputed as security guard for Madan Mohal Mittal, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Technical Education and Industrial Training of Punjab Government. Following his daily routine, he was sitting outside the residence of Mittal on his chair, when the incident took place.
On hearing the gunshot, other officials of Punjab police rushed for his rescue and found him lying in a pool of blood. A team of local police rushed him to Government multi specialty hospital Sector 16, where doctors declared him brought dead. After collecting circumstantial evidences, the body was sent to the mortuary for autopsy. Meanwhile, a team from Central Forensic Science laboratory (CFSl) was called to collect blood samples from the spot. The gun from which the bullet was fired has also been sent for inspection. Ashish Kapoor, DSP, Chandigarh police said, “Till now it has not been ascertained that if it was a case of accident or suicide. Police can reach a conclusion only after the CFSl team submits their report. However, preliminary investigation points in the direction of suicide.”