In blind rage, head constable opens fire on colleagues during roll-call
The scientific community at Kalpakkam Township, 80 km from Chennai, woke up to gunshots on Wednesday. Three personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were shot dead by one of their colleagues when they preparing for the daily morning roll-call.
Just when the in-charge of the camp asked the CISF personnel to fall in line for roll-call, Vijay Pratap Singh (40), a head constable, started indiscriminate firing on his colleagues in a blind rage killing three officials on the spot.
Additional sub-inspector Ganeshan, and head constables Subbaraj and Mohan Singh died on the spot. Pratap Singh, an ASI and Govardhan Singh, a head constable, were injured critically and were taken to a nearby private hospital.
The incident occurred at the CISF barracks at Kalpakkam township, which houses the residential accommodation of scientists and engineers working at IGCAR, MAPS and the FBTR.
“An unfortunate incident has happened at the CISF barracks which is 10 km away from the Kalpakkam establishment. The incident took place inside the CISF premises and it has in no way affected the working of the Kalpakkam complex. life is normal here and our routine works are progressing as usual,” Dr Saibaba, spokesman of IGCAR told The Pioneer.
Kalpakkam Police rushed to the spot and overpowered Singh, a native of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, and arrested him. A probe is on and top CISF officials have reached the Kalpakkam township.
“This is a disconcerting incident which has happened after a long time in our force. Senior officers have been rushed to the unit and we are cooperating in the police investigation,” CISF Director General Arvind Ranjan said in Delhi.
Officials said there were no immediate details about Singh’s interaction with other personnel or his state of mind since the previous night. The information can throw light on his shooting spree.
Officials said the accused has gone into a state of shock after the incident and is barely speaking. “He was quite experienced and had a 24-year service in the force since he joined in 1990. He had moved to this nuclear unit only last year on promotion as a Head Constable,” CISF spokesperson at Delhi headquarters Hemendra Singh said.