Punjab police sub-inspector, who was in charge of the third layer of security guarding electronic voting machines (EVMs) at the counting center in Fazilka, reportedly died after his weapon misfired during the wee hours on Friday.
A 55-year-old SI Baldev Singh was the in-charge of the third layer of security at a Government School in Fazilka. He was residing in a room in the school complex.
The incident took place at around 3.30 am inside his room. When the security personnel deployed for the security of strongroom heard a gunshot, they headed towards the place and found SI bleeding in his room. He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. It is believed that SI Baldev Singh was killed with his service revolver and it is being investigated whether it was accidental firing or a suicide.
In the first layer of security of strong rooms, the para force has been deployed, while Punjab Armed Police and local police form the second and third layers, respectively.
Fazilka Senior Superintendent of Police Sachin Gupta said that there was no breach in the security of EVMs. The police are investigating the matter but it is learnt that he was under some depression, he added.