In a brazen incident of a peace-keeper going off his guard while on duty, an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawan lost his loaded Self loading Rifle (SlR). It is learnt that he fell asleep while on night duty on Saturday. He was deputed at police post, Amanatgarh, near Buggawala police station area, Haridwar. This is a sensitive area in terms of illegal mining activities. Besides, the area borders with Uttar Pradesh. This incident has left Haridwar police and IRB embarrassed.
In view of increasing complaints of illegal mining activities in the area, the Haridwar police administration had deputed additional forces- one and half sections of IRB-II at police post, Amanatgarh under Buggawala police station. The policemen are supposed to be vigilant round the clock with illegal mining dangling over them.
“The jawan (constable) Sandeep Kumar who joined duty after returning from his home on Saturday fell asleep while on duty. During the time when he was asleep his loaded SlR was stolen. His duty was from 9 pm to 12 am on Saturday. The incident happened between 10.45 pm and 11.15 pm on Saturday night,” said a Haridwar –based police officer.
Guard Commander (IRB) Arjun Singh registered a complaint at Buggawala police station regarding the missing rifle and five cartridges against some unknown persons. A case has been registered under appropriate sections of IPC against unidentified persons in Buggawala police station. The intensive search operation being carried out by Haridwar police and IRB in adjoining areas to recover the missing SlR has come a cropper till the time the report was filed.
Three teams headed by CO of Manglaur, JB Pandey, CO of Rookree, Kuldeep Aswal and SOG have been formed by the Haridwar police. Some members of the team have been deployed at various places to recover the stolen SlR.
Police sources said that the Illegal mining operators from Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur who are active in the area might have stolen SlR. Kumar has been suspended and departmental action has been ordered against him, it is learnt.