A constable of the Chandigarh police shot dead his wife and also injured another woman before shooting at himself with his service revolver at the Government Multispeciality Hospital in Sector-16 (GMSH) on Friday morning.
The condition of constable Anant Kumar (36) and the injured lady, Savitri Devi, who are admitted in the same hospital, is reportedly stable. However, his wife Dimple (32) died on the spot, said Pawan Kumar, DSP, UT police.
The incident took place at around 10:30 am outside the OPD ward of GMSH. Anant fired five gunshots at Dimple from point-blank range. Savitri, a passerby, also got injured as a bullet hit her shoulder. The police have recovered seven bullet shells from the crime spot.
An eyewitness, Satnam Singh, said, “After firing five shots, the cop, who was in his uniform, also fired two gunshots at himself. A security official admitted him in the emergency ward.”
Dimple was working as a grade IV employee at GMSH while Anant was deputed in the VVIP security of a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A long matrimonial dispute was the reason behind shooting his wife and later himself, added the DSP.
Sukhwinder, a colleague of Dimple, said she was having tea with other colleagues when Anant forcibly took her towards the OPD ward and they had a heated argument. “Following the argument, Anant shot her dead with his service revolver,” he said.
Dimple’s brother, Rajesh Kumar, said Dimple and Anant got married in 2004 and have two children. However, since past three years, he started thrashing Dimple and had threatened to kill her on many occasions.
“Anant was probably having an extra-marital affair, and seemed unhappy with his married life.” Rajesh claimed.
“We lodged many complaints against him but no action was taken. We have already given written complaints at Sector-11 and 24 police stations and also at the public window of Police Headquarters against Anant,” he added.
Following threats from her husband, Dimple left the house and started living in her Government quarter at Sector-24 for the past three months.
“Constable Anant Kumar has been suspended from his services and a case registered against him at PS, Sector-11. Further investigations are under progress,” said Sukhchain Singh Gill, SSP, UT police.
Firing leads to panic, chaos hospital
Due to the firing there was panic and chaos at the hospital. Hundreds of patients and their relatives who had come to the hospital for treatmenmt were shocked.
Special police teams had to be deputed at the hospital to control the situation. Dimple’s relatives held a protest outside the emergency ward of the hospital and demanded immediate dismissal of the killer cop. The family also demanded his immediate arrest.